Guardian Metal Resources: Strengthening of Senior Management Team

Guardian Metal Resources PLC

21 October 2026

 

21 October 2026  

Guardian Metal Resources plc

('Guardian Metal' or the 'Company')

Strengthening of Senior Management Team to Support Project Development

Guardian Metal Resources plc (NYSE.A: GMTL, LON: GMET, OTCQB: GMTLF), a strategic exploration and development company focused on tungsten in Nevada, USA, is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. David Hendriks as Chief Operating Officer (“COO”) and Mr. Ron Espell as Vice-President, Environment & Permitting.

Mr. Hendriks is a senior mining engineer with over 30 years’ experience developing, constructing, and operating mines across the Americas, Africa, and Turkey - including ~15 years in rural Nevada. His executive background includes senior leadership at Kinross, Calibre Mining, and most recently as COO at Centerra Gold, where he oversaw safe operations, production growth, and sustainability initiatives. Notably in Nevada, he managed operations during the ~$375M Round Mountain Phase W expansion and led initial project development for the ~$250M Goldfield Project.

Mr. Espell is a geologist and environmental manager with over 30 years’ experience across the Americas, Australia, Southeast Asia, and Africa. He has held senior roles at Homestake Mining, Barrick Gold, McEwen Mining, and American Vanadium, specializing in corporate environmental management, ISO 14001 systems, mine design, permitting, and regulatory compliance. His technical expertise focuses on permitting, and includes due diligence, mine closure planning, pit lake and geochemical studies, and waste management. Drawing on early experience at the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection, Ron is an expert in NEPA and BLM 3809 regulations.

J.T. Starzecki, Executive Chair, commented:

“We are very pleased to welcome David to Guardian Metal as COO. David brings a wealth of experience across mine development, construction and operations, particularly in Nevada, and his appointment comes at a pivotal time for the Company as we continue to build on the significant progress being made across both Pilot Mountain and Tempiute.

“I would also like to take this opportunity to formally introduce Ron as the Company’s Vice President, Environmental & Permitting, who has been instrumental in our permitting efforts to date. Ron’s substantial environmental and regulatory expertise, particularly within the state of Nevada, will continue to be critical as we advance our projects towards production.”

Forward Looking Statements 

This announcement contains forward-looking statements relating to expected or anticipated future events and anticipated results that are forward-looking in nature and, as a result, are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, including general economic, market and business conditions, competition for qualified staff, the regulatory process and actions, technical issues, new legislation, potential delays or changes in plans, uncertainties resulting from operating in a new political jurisdiction, uncertainties regarding the results of exploration, the timing and granting of prospecting rights, the timing and granting of regulatory and other third party consents and approvals, Guardian Metal’s or any third party's ability to execute and implement future plans, and the occurrence of unexpected events.  

Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, including those described in the Company’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Guardian Metal undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. 

The information in this announcement is subject to change. 

For further information visit www.Guardianmetalresources.com or contact the following:  

About Guardian Metal Resources  

Guardian Metal Resources PLC (NYSE.A: GMTL, LON:GMET, OTCQB:GMTLF) is a strategic mineral exploration and development company driving the revival of U.S. mined tungsten production and strengthening America's defense metal independence. The Company is advancing two tungsten projects, Pilot Mountain, one of the largest undeveloped tungsten deposits in the U.S. and Tempiute, formerly America's largest producing tungsten operation, both located in Nevada, one of the top-rated mining jurisdictions in the United States. 

In July 2025, the U.S. Department of War (DoW) under Title III of the Defense Production Act of 1950, as amended, invested US$6.2M in Golden Metal Resources (USA) LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Guardian Metal Resources PLC, to support the Pilot Mountain PFS. The Company completed a U.S. listing on the NYSE American on March 20, 2026.  

Tungsten is a strategic metal critical to the defense, energy transition, technology and industrial sectors. In the context of shifting geopolitical dynamics and tightening Chinese export restrictions, Guardian Metal is well positioned to play a leading role in re-establishing a secure, domestically mined U.S. supply chain for this vital defense metal.

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