TORONTO (miningweekly.com) – Copper-miner Equinox Minerals has appointed Colin 'Cobb' Johnstone as COO, starting in January 2010, the firm announced on Monday.

He replaces Harry Michael, who announced his resignation in July.

Johnstone was previously COO at Australia's Sino Gold, which has been acquired by Vancouver-based Eldorado Gold.

"Cobb is a highly experienced professional with very relevant large-scale, opencut production mining experience,” Equinox CEO Craig Williams said in a statement.

“Given the recent takeover of Sino Gold, it is most fortuitous that we welcome Cobb to lead our growing Equinox operations team where we expect his extensive operational experience and strong track record in improving financial returns at operations will contribute greatly towards our stated objective of growing Equinox from the large-scale, long-life operation at Lumwana."

Equinox's Lumwana mine, in Zambia, started production a year ago and continues to ramp up.