Why Eminence Minerals Chose Anthony Hills to Lead Its Next Growth Phase

A Strategic Leadership Appointment

Eminence Minerals Limited (ASX, EMA) has announced the appointment of Anthony Hills as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective 23 February 2026. This move signals the company’s intent to strengthen its operational and project delivery capabilities as it advances its exploration and development portfolio.

Mr Hills brings a wealth of experience, with over 16 years in complex processing operations, commissioning, and operational readiness across the energy and industrial sectors. His career spans multiple continents, including Australia, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, and features senior roles at major players such as Woodside Energy and INPEX, as well as growth-stage clean technology companies like Hazer Group and Northvolt.

Bringing an Operator’s Perspective to Exploration

Board Chairman Agha Shahzad Pervez emphasised that Mr Hills’ appointment is designed to inject an operator’s mindset into Eminence’s exploration activities. His background in managing complex processing environments and commissioning large-scale facilities is expected to enhance the company’s ability to assess opportunities pragmatically and execute work programs with discipline.

Mr Hills himself highlighted his focus on improving technical evaluation processes, clarifying work program priorities, and maintaining rigorous standards around safety, data quality, and cost control. This approach aligns with Eminence’s goal of advancing its projects efficiently while safeguarding shareholder value.

Incentives Aligned with Shareholder Value

The CEO’s remuneration package includes a base salary of A$300,000 per annum, complemented by a performance rights incentive plan. This plan grants 2.7 million performance rights convertible to shares, contingent on continuous service and achieving specific share price milestones over a three-year period. Such incentives are designed to align Mr Hills’ interests closely with those of shareholders, rewarding successful execution and market confidence.

In the event of a change of control or termination without cause, provisions ensure fair treatment of unvested rights, reflecting a balanced approach to executive incentives.

Positioning for Sustainable Growth

As Eminence pushes forward in the competitive clean technology and battery materials sector, the appointment of a CEO with deep operational expertise and a track record in both established and emerging energy companies could prove pivotal. The company’s emphasis on disciplined capital allocation and structured technical evaluation under Mr Hills’ leadership may enhance its ability to unlock value from its exploration assets.

Investors will be watching closely to see how this leadership change translates into tangible progress on the ground and whether it can catalyse a stronger market performance for Eminence Minerals.