VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 11, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Asante Gold Corporation (TSX-V: ASE | GSE: ASG | OTCQX: ASGOF) ("Asante" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of Campbell Baird as Chief Operating Officer of the Company, together with management and board changes as part of an ongoing leadership transition designed to support the Company's next phase of operational growth.
Appointment of Chief Operating Officer
The Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of Campbell Baird as Chief Operating Officer of Asante, effective immediately.
Mr. Baird is a mining executive with more than 30 years of international operational and technical experience across exploration, development and production environments. He has held senior executive and operational roles across Africa, Australia and North America and brings significant experience in operational improvement, project execution and technical leadership.
Mr. Baird joins the Company at an important stage in its development, as Asante continues to advance operational performance at both the Bibiani and Chirano Gold Mines. In his role as Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Baird will focus on strengthening operational execution, improving production efficiencies and driving operational excellence as both operations continue their ramp-up toward planned production levels.
Malik Easah, Executive Chairman of Asante, stated: "Campbell brings deep operational experience and a strong track record of delivering improvements across complex mining operations. His appointment strengthens Asante's operational leadership at a critical time as we continue to focus on execution, efficiency and long-term value creation."
Advisory Roles
The Company also announces that Michele Muscillo and Kevin Tomlinson have been retained as advisors to the Company with immediate effect.
Mr. Muscillo is a partner at HopgoodGanim Lawyers and brings extensive experience advising public companies on corporate governance, capital markets and cross-border transactions. He is also an experienced company director in the resources sector, having sat on the board of a number of ASX and TSX listed companies across exploration, development and mineral production including Orbis Gold Ltd, Cardinal Resources Ltd and Xanadu Mines Ltd. Amongst other roles, he is currently Non-Executive Director of ASX-Listed Copper and Gold producer, Aeris Resources Ltd.
Mr. Tomlinson has more than four decades' experience in exploration, discovery, resource growth, mine development and financing of mining projects globally. He has played leading roles in numerous successful mergers and acquisitions across Canada, Australia, Africa and the United Kingdom.
Mr. Tomlinson was previously Managing Director of Investment Banking at Westwind Partners and Stifel Nicolaus (2006-2012), where he raised significant equity capital and provided M&A advisory services. He is the former Chair of Cardinal Resources Ltd, where he led its C$587 million sale to Shandong Gold, and previously served as a Non-Executive Director of Centamin PLC, which discovered and developed a significant gold mine in Egypt.
Mr. Tomlinson's current board positions include Chairman roles at a significant Australian gold producer and at a copper/gold developer with projects in Newfoundland, both of which are listed on ASX. Mr. Tomlinson holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours) and a Master's degree in Structural Geology, as well as a Graduate Diploma in Finance and Investment Banking, Corporate Finance and Securities Law from the Securities Institute of Australia. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investment (CISI), a Fellow of the Institute of Directors and a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of International Bankers (UK).
It is anticipated that both Michele Muscillo and Kevin Tomlinson will play integral roles in advancing the Company's strategic initiatives by strengthening its governance structures, enhancing its risk-management framework, and providing specialised technical support to drive operational excellence.
Retirement of President and Chief Executive Officer
The Company further announces that Dave Anthony will retire as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company effective May 15, 2026 and as a director of the Company with effect from May 15, 2026.
Mr. Anthony joined the Company in July 2021 as the Chief Operating Officer. He has served as President and CEO since March 2022 and has played a central role in the Company's transformation into a significant gold producer. Under his leadership, the Company transitioned from a development-stage company into a producing gold company, strengthened its operational foundation at Bibiani and Chirano, and raised more than US$500 million in development capital to support the Company's growth.
Malik Easah stated, "The Company owes Dave a debt of gratitude. In July 2021, I asked Dave to shelve his retirement plans and then in March 2022 the Board of Directors appointed him to be President and CEO. Now, almost five years later and having helped build a solid base for the future, it is only fair that we allow him to retire again! We wish Dave well."
A formal search for a new Chief Executive Officer has been initiated. Mr. Anthony will continue to serve in an advisory capacity to the Company for a defined transitional period after May 15, 2026 to provide continuity and support.
Director Retirement
The Company also announces that Dr. Roger Norwich has retired as a director with effect from March 10, 2026. Dr. Norwich has served on the Board since August 2020. He has made substantive contributions to the Company, having served on the Audit Committee, the Compensation, Governance and Nominating Committee, the Environmental, Social & Governance Committee, the Technical Committee and the Special Committee. The Board thanks him for his commitment, diligence and many contributions during a period of significant growth and development for the Company and wishes him continued success in his future endeavours.
About Asante Gold Corporation
Asante is a gold exploration, development and operating company with a high-quality portfolio of projects and mines in Ghana. Asante is currently operating the Bibiani and Chirano Gold Mines and continues with detailed technical studies at its Kubi Gold Project. All mines and exploration projects are located on the prolific Bibiani and Ashanti Gold Belts. Asante has an experienced and skilled team of mine finders, builders and operators, with extensive experience in Ghana. The Company is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange, the Ghana Stock Exchange and the OTCQX® Best Market. Asante is also exploring its Keyhole, Fahiakoba and Betenase projects for new discoveries, all adjoining or along strike of major gold mines near the centre of Ghana's Golden Triangle. Additional information is available on the Company's website at www.asantegold.com.
For further information please contact:
Alex Heath, Lead Director
Frederick Attakumah, Executive Vice President and Country Director
info@asantegold.com
+1 604 354 2491 or +233 303 972 147
Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this news release constitute forward-looking statements or forward-looking information. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements or information. Forward-looking statements or information in this news release relate to, among other things, the search for a new Chief Executive Officer of the Company. These forward-looking statements and information reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant operational, business, economic and regulatory uncertainties and contingencies. These assumptions include: the impact of inflation and disruptions to the global, regional and local supply chains; tonnage of mineralized material to be mined and processed; future anticipated prices for gold and assumed foreign exchange rates; the timing and impact of planned capital expenditure projects, including anticipated sustaining, project, and exploration expenditures; risks related to increased barriers to trade, including tariffs and duties; ore grades and recoveries; capital, decommissioning and reclamation estimates; our mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates and the assumptions upon which they are based; prices for energy inputs, labour, materials, supplies and services (including transportation); no labour-related disruptions at any of our operations; no unplanned delays or interruptions in scheduled development and/or production; all necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals for our operations are received in a timely manner; our ability to secure and maintain title and ownership to mineral properties and the surface rights necessary for our operations, including contractual rights from third parties and adjacent property owners; whether the Company is able to maintain a strong financial condition and have sufficient capital, or have access to capital, to sustain our business and operations; and our ability to comply with environmental, health and safety laws. The foregoing list of assumptions is not exhaustive.
Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results, performance, prospects, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the duration and effect of local and world-wide inflationary pressures and the potential for economic recessions; fluctuations in the price of gold; fluctuations in currency markets; operational risks and hazards inherent with the business of mining (including environmental accidents and hazards, industrial accidents, equipment breakdown, unusual or unexpected geological or structural formations, cave-ins, flooding and severe weather); risks relating to the credit worthiness or financial condition of suppliers, refiners and other parties with whom the Company does business; inadequate insurance, or inability to obtain insurance, to cover these risks and hazards; employee relations; relationships and claims by local communities; changes in laws, regulations and government practices in the jurisdictions where we operate, including environmental, export and import laws and regulations; changes in national and local government, legislation, taxation, controls or regulations and political, legal or economic developments in countries where the Company may carry on business, including legal restrictions relating to mining, risks relating to expropriation; variations in the nature, quality and quantity of any mineral deposits that may be located, the Company's inability to obtain any necessary permits, consents or authorizations required for its planned activities, the Company's inability to raise the necessary capital or to be fully able to implement its business and growth strategies, and those risk factors identified in the Company's management's discussions and analysis and the most recent annual information form. The reader is referred to the Company's public disclosure record which is available on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca). Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on these statements, which only apply as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. Except as required by securities laws and the policies of the securities exchanges on which the Company is listed, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
