Darnley Bay Resources Ltd. (TSX.V: DBL) has appointed Mr. John L. Key as Chief Operating Officer of the Company.
Mr. Key is a mining engineer with significant experience in general management of both underground and open pit base metals mines in Canada and the United States, including two in far-north operating conditions. His 40 years of industry experience in senior management includes 28 years at Cominco Ltd. and its successor Teck Cominco, where he was general manager of three major mining operations.
"This hiring is the first step in building an experienced production team to take the Pine Point project through feasibility, and if warranted, into production," said Jamie Levy, President and CEO. "John's extensive experience mining both open pit and underground zinc mines in the far north is invaluable."
Over the course of his career, Mr. Key held several senior management and executive positions, including President and CEO of Gryphon Gold Corporation, a TSX-listed company, from 2008 to 2012. During his tenure, Mr. Key's leadership was crucial in advancing Gryphon Gold from small junior exploration company to a production-stage mining company.
Mr. Key was also General Manager of the largest open pit zinc mine in the world during his tenure as General Manager of Red Dog Operations for Teck Cominco in Alaska, from 1996-2001. Mr. Key's numerous accomplishments during his time operating in the arctic environment at Red Dog are highlighted by two major mine expansion projects, which in aggregate required the oversight of a budget of some $300 million and increased the annual production rate from 500,000 tonnes of zinc concentrates to over 1 million tonnes of concentrates.
Mr. Key was also General Manager of Cominco's Polaris underground lead-zinc mine located 60 km from the magnetic north pole in the Northwest Territories from 1993 to 1995. His considerable experience in permitting, community relations and other regulatory issues in the N.W.T. will be crucial in advancing Pine Point to the production stage of development, including the permitting of several open pit and underground deposits at Pine Point. Previous to this position he was also General Manager of Cominco's Magmont lead-zinc mine in Missouri from 1982-1993 and United Salt's salt mine in Hockley, Texas from 1979-1981.
Mr. Key holds a Bachelor of Science (BS), and a Professional Degree in Mining Engineering, Mineral and Mineral Engineering from the University of Missouri.
Source: Darnley Bay Resources
