BISSETT, MB--(Marketwire - 12/08/10) - Dale Ginn, CEO of San Gold Corporation (TSX:SGR - News) (Pinksheets:SGRCF - News), is pleased to report that George Pirie has been appointed as president and chief executive officer of the company effective immediately. Mr. Ginn assumes the role of executive vice-chairman.
Mr. Pirie has over 29 years experience in senior management roles within the mining industry, specifically related to underground gold and base metal companies. Mr. Pirie's career began in Timmins, Ontario with Noranda's Pamour Porcupine Mines, joining with Dome Mines in 1985 to begin an impressive 20 year career with Placer Dome Canada. Various senior positions were held during this period including chief financial officer with Placer Dome North America and Placer Dome Canada, culminating as president and chief executive officer of Placer Dome Canada, as well as Executive Vice-President of Placer Dome Inc., responsible for Canadian operations which included Red Lake, Timmins and Musselwhite. Mr. Pirie has also held the president and chief executive positions at Breakwater Resources and Northern Star Mining and has served on a number of boards including the Mining Association of Canada, Ontario Mining Association, the Ontario Mineral Industry Cluster Council and Mirarco. Mr. Pirie has also served on the board of Pallidan Uranium and continues to serve on the board of Auryx Gold and Lithium Americas Corporation.
Dale Ginn commented, "We are very fortunate to be able to attract someone of George's calibre and experience to San Gold. This move signals the beginning of the transition for our company from its roots in exploration to becoming an integrated, profitable production and exploration company. Under George's leadership, San Gold's strengths will be built upon and I look forward to working with George and focusing our energies on continuing growth for our company."
Mr. Pirie stated, "San Gold is currently a dynamic and successful gold exploration company, having discovered seven high grade gold deposits over the past five years, and yet is still in the initial stages of executing on its new exploration model for the Rice Lake camp. San Gold expects to continue delivering on this model well into the decade. These discoveries will provide the foundation for San Gold's growth into a robust intermediate producer."
Mr. Pirie continued, "It is a rare and exciting opportunity to lead a company and team with such an outstanding rate of exploration success into the next phase of its development with solid profitability and corporate expansion. I look forward to this challenge and opportunity to demonstrate that we are the growth vehicle of choice."
