TORONTO (miningweekly.com) – Aspirant integrated rare earths producer Great Western Minerals Group (GWMG) has appointed Marc LeVier as its president and CEO with immediate effect, following a lengthy global search.

LeVier joined GWMG’s board late in, and has been actively involved in an oversight role with the finalisation of the preliminary economic assessment (PEA) and the development of the company's Steenkampskraal rare earths project, in South Africa.

Previously he has held positions as president and CEO as well as a director of Texas Rare Earth Resources, where he oversaw the completion of a PEA, established the strategic direction for that company and created a culture of innovation and accountability.

Le Vier had also spent more than twenty years in senior metallurgical and management positions with Newmont Mining, including GM of the Zarafshan/Newmont joint venture and senior director for metallurgical research and development. During his tenure with Newmont, he assisted in the successful start-up of operations at new properties and led multidisciplinary teams in the development of new technologies for hydrometallurgical, chemical and engineering design processes.

LeVier holds a BSc in Metallurgical Engineering as well as a MSc in Metallurgical Engineering, both from Michigan Technological University in Houghton, Michigan.

His professional affiliations and certifications include membership of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration as well as the Mining & Metallurgical Society of America.

"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,” GWMG interim president and CEO Robert Quinn said.

The company’s TSX-V-listed stock traded 8.93% higher at 30.5 Canadian cents following news of the appointment on Wednesday morning.