GREAT WESTERN MINERALS GROUP LTD.
TSX Venture Symbol: GWG CUSIP: 39141Y 10 3
OTCQX: GWMGF
GREAT WESTERN MINERALS GROUP APPOINTS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
January 9, 2013 - Saskatoon, Canada: Great Western Minerals Group Ltd. ("GWMG" or the "Company", TSX:V – GWG) today announced it has appointed Marc LeVier to the position of President and Chief Executive Officer, subject to regulatory approval. The appointment is effective immediately.
Mr. LeVier, who joined the Board of Directors of GWMG in late 2012 (see: GWMG news release December 18, 2012), has been actively involved in an oversight role with the finalization of the Preliminary Economic Assessment (“PEA”) and the continued development of the Company’s Steenkampskraal project.
Mr. LeVier has been President and Chief Executive Officer as well as a Director of Texas Rare Earth Resources Corp. where he oversaw the completion of a PEA, established the strategic direction for that company and created a culture of innovation and accountability. Prior to that, he spent over twenty years with Newmont Mining Corporation in senior metallurgical and management positions including General Manager of the Zarafshan/Newmont joint venture and Senior Director, Metallurgical Research and Development. During his tenure with Newmont, Mr. LeVier played a leadership role in the successful start-up of operations of new properties and led multi-disciplinary teams in the development of new technologies for hydrometallurgical, chemical and engineering design processes.
Mr. LeVier holds a Bachelor of Science in Metallurgical Engineering as well as a Master of Science degree in Metallurgical Engineering, both from Michigan Technological University in Houghton, Michigan.
His professional affiliations and certifications include membership in the Society of Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration as well as the Mining and Metallurgical Society of America.
GWMG Interim President and Chief Executive Officer Robert Quinn said, “GWMG is exceptionally pleased to announce the appointment of a CEO with such significant mining industry expertise and commitment to our Company. His oversight role in the development of the PEA means he is intimately familiar with GWMG’s fully integrated business model and by virtue of moving into the CEO role immediately he will take a lead role in the communication of the results of the PEA, positioning GWMG to move quickly on the execution its strategic plan.”
Great Western Minerals Group Ltd. is engaged in becoming an integrated rare earth producer. The Company currently produces specialty alloys which are used in the aerospace, automobile, computer and high-tech industries. Produced at the Company’s wholly owned subsidiaries Less Common Metals Limited in Birkenhead, U.K. and Great Western Technologies Inc. in Troy, Michigan, these alloys contain iron, nickel, cobalt and rare earth elements. As part of the Company’s vertical integration strategy, GWMG also holds 100% equity ownership in Rare Earth Extraction Co. Limited, which owns a 74% equity interest in the Steenkampskraal Mine in South Africa. In addition to an exploration program at Steenkampskraal, GWMG also holds interests in four active rare earth exploration and development properties in North America.
For further information, please contact Dwight Percy, Manager of Investor Relations at (306) 659-4516. Email inquiries should be made to info@gwmg.ca and the company website is located at www.gwmg.ca. Inquiries by direct mail should be addressed to Great Western Minerals Group Ltd., 219 Robin Crescent, Saskatoon, SK S7L 6M8.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.