JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Tom Dale, the outgoing CEO of South African fluorspar-miner Sallies, would join platinum junior Platmin as CEO on December 1, succeeding Ian Watson, who resigned earlier this month.

Sallies announced on Friday that Dale had resigned as director and that he would step down as CEO at the end of November.

The platinum company also announced that mining icon Brian Gilbertson, who is a director of Platmin, had been appointed as nonexecutive chairperson from December 1.

Keith Liddell, who is currently executive chairperson of Platmin, would step down from that position with effect from the December 1, and become one of two nonexecutive deputy chairs, in compliance with the recommendations of the King Commission.

“I worked directly with Dale for over five years in the gold industry in Gencor and Gold Fields. I believe that he brings the managerial experience and focused resolve needed to realise Platmin’s substantial potential,” Gilbertson commented.

Dale has held various senior positions within the South African mining industry, including MD of Gencor’s gold division and of Gold Fields. He was also CEO of Mopani Copper Mines, in Zambia.

“Platmin is uniquely positioned with a large shallow resource base on the cusp of production. Taken to its full potential, it will be a very significant industry competitor, and should realise much value for shareholders. It is a privilege to join the Platmin team as it pursues that ambitious vision,” Dale said.

Platmin’s flagship project in South Africa is the Pilanesberg mine. It also owns the Mphahlele, Grootboom and Loskop projects, but its main attention is on bringing the Pilanesberg mine to full production.

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