Kenmare Resources plc : Appointment of Chief Op...

Kenmare Resources plc ("Kenmare" or "the Company")

3 December 2014                                                                                                                                             

Appointment of Chief Operating Officer

Kenmare Resources is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Ben Baxter as Chief Operations Officer. Ben joins Kenmare in early January 2015 from Rio Tinto where he held the role of General Manager Mining at Richards Bay Minerals, the world's largest single producer of titanium feedstocks.

Jacob Deysel, the current COO, will step down from his position at the end of the year to pursue other opportunities, though Kenmare will retain the benefit of his expertise on a consulting basis. This follows nearly six years at Kenmare Resources, during which time Jacob has helped to drive Kenmare's production growth.

Ben Baxter joins Kenmare with extensive industry experience, including the past 18 years working directly in the titanium feedstock industry for Rio Tinto. Ben has held a broad range of roles at Rio Tinto's Richards Bay Minerals including, Senior Geologist, Mineral Separation Plant Manager and Mining Manager. Ben took on the role of General Manager Operations of the Rio Tinto QMM mineral sands mine in Madagascar in 2009, overseeing a significant increase in production volumes. In 2013, Ben returned to Richards Bay as General Manager Mining where his focus has been on building safety culture, reducing costs and increasing efficiencies.

Ben holds a BSc in Applied Geology from the University of Leicester and an MSc in Mining Geology from the Camborne School of Mines.

Statement from Michael Carvill, Managing Director: 
"I am delighted to welcome someone of Ben's calibre and expertise to Kenmare. Ben's extensive experience in running large scale mineral sands operations in Africa makes him particularly qualified to contribute to Kenmare's key objectives of reducing unit costs and increasing operating efficiencies.

I also would like to thank our outgoing COO, Jacob Deysel, who has been instrumental in developing the Moma Mine and wish him all the best in his future endeavours. We are very grateful for his work and dedication over this time and look forward to his continuing support and input in his ongoing role as a consultant to Kenmare."

Ben Baxter career summary

Rio Tinto (1996 to 2014)
General Manager Mining - Richards Bay Minerals
General Manager Operations - QMM
Manager of Mineral Separation Plant - Richards Bay Minerals
Manager of ABS Project and Business Improvement - Richards Bay Minerals
Manager Mining South & Services - Richards Bay Minerals
Acting Manager Mining Plants - Richards Bay Minerals
Superintendent Operations - Richards Bay Minerals
Business Analyst: Production Planning - Richards Bay Minerals
Senior Geologist - Richards Bay Minerals
Assistant Geologist - Richards Bay Minerals

Soil Mechanics Limited (1993 to 1995)
Assistant Engineer

For further information, please contact:

Kenmare Resources plc
Michael Carvill, Managing Director                                    
Tel: [phone]                                                             
Mob: + 353 87 674 0110                                                      

Tony McCluskey, Financial Director
Tel: [phone]                                                             
Mob: + 353 87 674 0346

Jeremy Dibb, Corporate Development and Investor Relations Manager
Tel: [phone]
Mob: + 353 87 943 0367

Murray Consultants                                                              
Joe Heron                                                                                 
Tel: [phone]                                                             
Mob: [phone]                                                       

Buchanan
Bobby Morse / Louise Mason / Gordon Poole
Tel: [phone]

The Directors of Kenmare accept responsibility for the information contained in this announcement. To the best of their knowledge and belief (having taken all reasonable care to ensure that such is the case), the information contained in this announcement is in accordance with the facts and does not omit anything likely to affect the import of such information.

This announcement is not intended to, and does not, constitute or form part of any offer, invitation or the solicitation of an offer to purchase, otherwise acquire, subscribe for, sell or otherwise dispose of, any securities whether pursuant to this announcement or otherwise. The distribution of this announcement in jurisdictions outside Ireland or the United Kingdom may be restricted by law and therefore persons into whose possession this announcement comes should inform themselves about, and observe, such restrictions. Any failure to comply with the restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities law of any such jurisdiction.

A person interested in 1% or more of any class of relevant securities of Kenmare or Iluka may have disclosure obligations under Rule 8.3 of the Irish Takeover Rules, effective from 26 June 2014, the date of the commencement of the offer period for Kenmare under the Irish Takeover Rules.

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Source: Kenmare Resources via Globenewswire

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