LSE-listed Botswana-focussed explorer Kavango Resources has appointed Brett Grist as COO. He will join the company on its board as an executive director on February 7, 2022.

A geologist graduate from the Royal School of Mines, in London, he has over 22 years of exploration and mining experience in base metals and gold across Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Australia.

Grist is also a chartered professional member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.

Over the course of his career, he has worked in geological and management roles as CEO, director and exploration manager, taking projects from early exploration through to resource definition and into development.

In Africa, he worked for Reunion Mining and Casa Mining, covering projects in Mali, Ghana, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Mozambique.

In the DRC, as CEO of Casa, Grist led a large exploration programme covering airborne geophysics, soil sampling and extensive diamond drilling – which successfully delivered a maiden resource for the Misisi gold deposit.

Most recently, he worked in the UK, where Grist led the definition of a substantial high-grade metal resource for Strategic Minerals’ Redmoor tin/tungsten/copper project.

In addition, Grist also presently co-chairs the Critical Minerals Association’s UK mining working group.

Kavango chairperson David Smith says Grist’s extensive background in advancing exploration programmes and delivering projects adds important technical skills to Kavango’s senior management.

“We have made a great deal of progress building a much more robust foundation for the company over 2021. Brett’s appointment will significantly strengthen Kavango, as we grow the business more ambitiously in 2022,” says Smith.

Grist says Botswana is a highly-attractive mining investment destination, adding that the combination of Kavango’s team and an exciting exploration holding of significant scale, focussed on metals that are in increasing demand, means the company is well placed to deliver exploration success.

OPTION AWARD

Meanwhile, Kavango has also agreed to award Grist two grants of employee share options, the first being subject to a vesting period of one year, with half the options vesting after 12 months and the remainder vesting after 18 months, provided he remains employed within the Kavango group.

The options are exercisable at a price of 5p per ordinary share, for a period of seven years.

The second award of options will be subject to a vesting period of one year, with half the options vesting after 12 months and the remainder vesting after 18 months, provided Grist remains employed within the Kavango group.

The options are exercisable at a price of 7.5p apiece for a period of seven years.