Today's Announcement of the appointment of Chris Jordaan as Chief Operating Officer ...should perhaps be viewed in the wider context !
Putting aside Mr Jordaans' expertise his role for the moment , its good to note two aspects ...1) as per the Announcement , his starting date is this week , and 2) Superior Gold , Toronto TSX listed where he was previously , has been taken over by Australian Catalyst Minerals .
But --in the wider context , his appointment allows/enables/is designed to release Rowena Smith to "wider responsibilities ", which have been "forecast"in recent Announcements and by Rowena's much increased recent level of public appearances .
If this assumption is correct ...I think ASM have reached a stage --where technology refinements at KPM , and in conjunction with ANSTO here in Australia are at least on a positive forward path .....one where Rowena can hand over and charge Chris Jordaan to take forward in steady progression .
Whilst still having that overall "end result "responsibilty .....that enables Rowena to progress overseas Offtakes , overseas and Australian Financing and relationships with the likes of the US Dept of Defense / Dept of Energy and private enterprises in Korea / USA /Europe and Japan with an increased focus and intensity . The current "template models "and Management structure of both Lynas and Iluka come to mind ....with the noteable observation of course , that it is early days and one could only wish that ASM had the established operations and market caps of either /both these companies .
But ... you can't expect to realise the potential ..to get Dubbo/ Toongi out of the ground and starting to be built ...unless you take the step , where there is devoted time and singular energy directed to it !!!!
If Mr Jordaan proves to be an astute choice , then this could be a very necessary and rewarding 6 months in accelerating ASM's forecast "discussions"already underway .
AIMHO
(20min delay)