Matador Mining adds gold project development experience with former OceanaGold president and CEO appointed director

Matador Mining Ltd (ASX:MZZ) has appointed former president and CEO of OceanaGold Corp (ASX:OGC) (TSE:OGC) Mick Wilkes to the board as a non-executive director. This appointment adds gold project development expertise to the company as it progresses the Cape Ray Gold Project in Newfoundland, Canada, towards development. Wilkes served as a president and CEO of OceanaGold for a decade, prior to stepping down earlier this year, growing the company from a junior producer into a multi-national mid-tier gold producer with four operations across three countries. The new appointment is highly experienced in operations management and new mine development for base and precious metals. His appointment positions Matador with a highly experienced and independent board that has an exceptional blend of corporate, exploration, mine development and financial expertise. Executive chairman Ian Murray said the company was delighted to have Wilkes join the board of Matador. “International experience will be critical” “I firmly believe that our ability to attract a director of Mick’s calibre highlights the potential of Matador and our Cape Ray Project in Newfoundland, Canada. “Mick Wilkes' recent experience in international mine development will be critical as the company progresses the Cape Ray Project towards gold production. “In the more immediate future, through his role over the past decade as president and CEO at OceanaGold, a dual-listed ASX/TSX company with a $2 billion market capitalisation, his appointment should assist in further strengthening the company’s growing level of institutional support both locally as well as with North American investors.” “Potential for the Cape Ray project to grow” Wilkes said: “I am excited to have joined the Matador board as I see a real potential for the Cape Ray Project to grow and become a new gold operation in the coming years. “The success in consolidating a dominant landholding along a known but under-explored gold system in a world-class jurisdiction is testament to the current team and I look forward to working with them and my fellow directors as we grow the Cape Ray Project and progress it towards production.”