TSX-V-listed Lithium Africa has appointed Dr Thomas Benson CEO, effective July 1.

Benson joined the company’s board of directors in April and will continue to serve as a director. He currently serves as VP of global exploration at Lithium Argentina and will continue to support Lithium Argentina in an advisory capacity following his transition to Lithium Africa.

Tyron Breytenbach, co-founder and current CEO of Lithium Africa, will step down as CEO and a director effective July 1, and transition to the role of capital markets adviser.

In this role, Breytenbach will remain actively engaged with the company to support continuity across capital markets activity, strategic relationships and growth priorities.

"Building Lithium Africa alongside our partners and team has been a privilege of my career. The company is now well-capitalised, well-partnered, and positioned for its next phase of growth, and I am proud to hand the reins to someone whose technical leadership has helped shape where we are today,” says Breytenbach.

"I am grateful to Tyron and the board for the support and the opportunity to lead Lithium Africa as we enter the next phase of growth.

“My focus now is to build Lithium Africa into a leading exploration company through disciplined capital allocation, rigorous technical evaluation, and the same lithium-specific, cutting-edge exploration methods I have applied at some of the world's largest lithium deposits.

“By drilling priority targets and advancing them through clear technical decision points, and by drawing on the expertise of our local African teams, we aim to define large-scale lithium resources and create long-term value for shareholders, host countries, and local communities,” says Benson.

"Tom has been integral in helping Lithium Argentina define several of the largest lithium brine resources globally. We're delighted he'll continue supporting our team and wish him every success in leading Lithium Africa,” adds Lithium Argentina president and CEO Sam Pigott.