New CEO To Lead Push On Recently Acquired Gold Project
Viking Mines Limited (ASX: VKA) has appointed the experienced Julian Woodcock as Chief Executive Officer as it moves to make the most of a recent high-grade gold acquisition in Western Australia.
Mr Woodcock will commence in his role immediately and will actively work with CSA Global on the technical advancement of the high-grade gold projects, located within the Eastern Goldfields, that are subject to a conditional acquisition agreement with Red Dirt Mining Pty Ltd.
Mr Woodcock is a geologist with over 19 years experience in all aspects of the extractive and mineral exploration industry and with direct association to notable multi million ounce gold discoveries.
In his most recent role as Exploration Manager for Gold Road Resources he led a large gold exploration team to discover new orebodies and define 300 koz of Indicated Resources and also converted 1.3 Moz from Inferred to Indicated Resources at the Gruyere gold mine. Previous appointments include Exploration Manager for Evolution Mining Mungari Operations and also for Gold Fields Australia at the St Ives Gold Mine.
Viking’s Chairman, Ray Whitten, said Mr Woodcock has a proven history of leading exploration teams which discover and develop new gold projects. He has also held various international positions for Gold Fields Ltd and Kinross Gold.
“We are extremely pleased to have recruited a mining professional of the calibre of Julian in what is a pivotal time for our company,” Mr Whitten said.
“We are very confident that Julian’s proven history of identifying new gold discoveries and advancement of both open pit and underground gold projects will successfully drive the project development and exploration plans for the high-grade First Hit Gold Mine and exploration upside, as part of the Red Dirt Project package”.
Mr Woodcock saidhe isexcited to lead the company through its exploration and development of the First Hit Gold Mine.
“High grade gold projects of this nature which haven’t seen a drill bit in almost 20 years are a rarity and present an excellent opportunity to rapidly test and advance the project for the benefit of the shareholders in this excellent gold climate. I look forward to getting on the ground and working with CSA and commencing drilling of the project in the near future.”
