Lithium Ionic Appoints Chief Operating Officer to Advance the Development of the Bandeira Lithium Project, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Rhea-AI Summary

Lithium Ionic Corp. (TSXV: LTH; OTCQX: LTHCF; FSE: H3N) has appointed mining veteran, Mr. Paulo Guimarães Misk, as Chief Operating Officer to lead the development of the Bandeira Lithium Project in Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Mr. Misk's 38 years of in-country experience in operational management will strengthen the Company's executive team and its technical and operational capabilities.

TORONTO, Dec. 04, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lithium Ionic Corp. (TSXV: LTH; OTCQX: LTHCF; FSE: H3N) (“Lithium Ionic” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce the appointment of mining veteran, Mr. Paulo Guimarães Misk, as Chief Operating Officer to lead the development of the Bandeira Lithium Project (“Bandeira” or the “Project”), in Minas Gerais State, Brazil.

Mr. Misk is a Brazilian-based mining engineer with over 38 years of in-country experience in the operational management of several multinational mining companies across a diverse range of commodities, including lithium. As an industry leader, Mr. Misk will strengthen the Company’s executive team and its technical and operational capabilities as it quickly accelerates the Bandeira project.  

Blake Hylands, P.Geo., CEO of Lithium Ionic, commented, "Paulo has demonstrated outstanding leadership in building and transforming operations at his previous roles at Largo, Anglo American and AMG, and we are delighted to welcome him to our leadership team as we enter the next phase of development for Bandeira. He is a seasoned industry leader who has spent his entire career successfully developing and optimizing mining projects in Brazil, and we are confident that his technical, strategic, and operational experience will greatly complement the team we already have in place as we continue to advance our projects with the aim of becoming Brazil’s next major lithium producer.”

Paulo Guimarães Misk, Lithium Ionic’s incoming COO, commented, “I am thrilled to be part of the Lithium Ionic team and excited about the opportunity to contribute to the next chapter of the Company’s success on a lithium project that I believe is one of the most promising in Brazil. I look forward to working with a very talented mining team to deliver on the goal of becoming an important player in the global EV and battery supply chains.”

Prior to joining Lithium Ionic, Paulo held several executive and operational roles at Largo Inc. between 2014-2023, including President and COO, and most recently CEO and board member. During his tenure, he led the production commissioning and operations of its Maracás Menchen Mine and led several expansion and optimization projects, including the implementation of the company’s battery business. Under his leadership, Largo experienced a dramatic turnaround, becoming a profitable and globally significant vanadium supplier.

Prior to Largo, Paulo spent four years at Anglo American running the Catalão Project as Head of Niobium and Phosphate Operations, managing a team of 4,000 people at five sites. During his tenure, he implemented innovative policies and fostered a high-performance culture that greatly improved the profitability of the operation.

Mr. Misk also has 10 cumulative years of experience at AMG, a global leader in the supply of critical materials, where he most recently served as Operational Director. Here he was responsible for the Tantalum and Niobium division and overall mining activities in Brazil, including the development of its Mibra lithium mine located in Minas Gerais State.

In 2019, Mr. Misk was named Brazil Mineral Magazine’s mining personality of the year in the Ferrous Minerals category for his role in the positive transformation of Largo’s vanadium mine, and more recently in 2022, he was the recipient of CBPM (“Companhia Baiana de Pesquisa Mineral”) mining personality of the year award in recognition for his positive contributions to the mining sector of Bahia State.

Mr. Misk obtained his Mining Engineering degree from UFMG (Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais), as well as a post-graduate degree in Economic Engineering from Fundação Dom Cabral (FDC). He also has an MBA in Business Management from FGV/OHIO University.

Option Grant

The Company also announces that Mr. Misk has been awarded 150,000 stock options (the "Options") to purchase common shares of the Company pursuant to the Company's Stock Option Plan. The Options are exercisable to purchase common shares of the Company at an exercise price of $1.60 per common share for a period of five years expiring on December 1, 2028. The grant of Options is subject to approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

About Lithium Ionic Corp.

Lithium Ionic is a Canadian mining company exploring and developing its lithium properties in Brazil. Its Itinga and Salinas group of properties cover 14,182 hectares in the northeastern part of Minas Gerais state, a mining-friendly jurisdiction that is quickly emerging as a world-class hard-rock lithium district. Its Feasibility-stage Bandeira Project is situated in the same region as CBL’s Cachoeira lithium mine, which has produced lithium for +30 years, as well as Sigma Lithium Corp.’s Grota do Cirilo project, which hosts the largest hard-rock lithium deposit in the Americas.

Qualified Persons

The technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Carlos Costa, Vice President Exploration of Lithium Ionic and Blake Hylands, CEO and director of Lithium Ionic, who are both “qualified persons” as defined in NI 43-101.

Investor and Media Inquiries:

+1 647.316.2500
info@lithiumionic.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains statements that constitute “forward-statements.” Such forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company’s actual results, performance or achievements, or developments to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes, in light of the experience of its officers and directors, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors that have been considered appropriate that the expectations reflected in this forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. When used in this press release, the words “estimate”, “project”, “belief”, “anticipate”, “intend”, “expect”, “plan”, “predict”, “may” or “should” and the negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. The forward-looking statements and information in this press release include information relating to the prospectivity of the Company’s mineral properties, the economic viability of the Bandeira, the mineralization and development of the Company’s mineral properties, the impact of management changes, the Option grant and the Company’s future plans. Such statements and information reflect the current view of the Company. Risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in those forward-looking statements and information. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the expectations of the Company as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. Readers should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management’s beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.

Information and links in this press release relating to other mineral resource companies are from their sources believed to be reliable, but that have not been independently verified by the Company.

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

FAQ

Who is the new Chief Operating Officer of Lithium Ionic Corp. and what is his background?

The new Chief Operating Officer of Lithium Ionic Corp. is Mr. Paulo Guimarães Misk, a Brazilian-based mining engineer with over 38 years of in-country experience in operational management of multinational mining companies.

Where is the Bandeira Lithium Project located and what is its significance for Lithium Ionic Corp.?

The Bandeira Lithium Project is located in Minas Gerais State, Brazil. It is significant for Lithium Ionic Corp. as it aims to become Brazil’s next major lithium producer.

What are the Company's expectations from the new COO, Mr. Paulo Guimarães Misk?

The Company expects Mr. Misk to strengthen the executive team and its technical and operational capabilities, as well as to accelerate the development of the Bandeira project.

What is the CEO's comment on the appointment of Mr. Paulo Guimarães Misk?

Blake Hylands, CEO of Lithium Ionic, commented that Mr. Misk has demonstrated outstanding leadership in building and transforming operations at previous roles and that they are delighted to welcome him to the leadership team.

What is Mr. Paulo Guimarães Misk's response to joining Lithium Ionic Corp.?

Mr. Paulo Guimarães Misk expressed his thrill to be part of the Lithium Ionic team and his excitement to advance the projects with the aim of becoming Brazil’s next major lithium producer.