TORONTO (miningweekly.com) – US-based rare earth elements producer Molycorp on Tuesday named 14-year rare earth industry veteran and COO Geoff Bedford its new president and CEO effective from December 2, to replace Constantine Karayannopoulos who was appointed interim president and CEO in December 2012.
Bedford (47) previously served as executive VP and COO of Neo Material Technologies until Molycorp acquired the company in June 2012. Before that, he served as executive VP of the performance materials division of Neo Materials from 2005 to 2011, and as executive VP for finance and CFO from 1999 to 2005.
Karayannopoulos would continue as a director and vice chairperson of the board.
Molycorp’s NYSE-listed stock opened up $0.10 at $7.20 apiece.