EMC Gold appoints Spain-based CEO to drive Salave project growth

Strategic Leadership Pivot to Spain

EMC Gold (ASX:EM3) has made a decisive leadership change to sharpen its focus on Spain’s Salave Gold Project, appointing Agne Ahlenius as Chief Executive Officer effective 6 July 2026. Ahlenius, a mining executive with over 35 years of international experience, including extensive operational roles within Spain, steps in to guide the company’s next growth phase.

The appointment underscores EMC Gold’s commitment to advancing Salave, one of Europe’s largest undeveloped gold projects, situated in Asturias. Alongside the CEO change, Non-Executive Director Alberto Lavandeira has been elevated to Non-Executive Chairman, while former Executive Chairman Dominic Roberts transitions to a Non-Executive Director role, reflecting a governance structure aligned with the company’s Spanish development focus.

CEO Credentials and Strategic Mandate

Ahlenius brings a wealth of operational expertise from senior positions at Spanish mining ventures such as Saloro and MATSA, with a strong track record in navigating regulatory frameworks and stakeholder engagement in Spain. Fluent in Spanish and based locally, his leadership is expected to accelerate permitting progress and community relations critical to Salave’s advancement.

The CEO’s remuneration package includes a €100,000 base salary, discretionary short-term incentives, and a significant long-term incentive of 5 million performance rights. These rights are split equally between two key milestones: a positive environmental impact assessment outcome from the Government of the Principality of Asturias and urban planning approvals from the Tapia Municipality. Both tranches expire two years from issuance and require shareholder approval.

Salave’s Resource Base and Development Prospects

Salave’s mineral resource estimate, last updated in March 2025, comprises a measured resource of 0.19 million ounces grading 5.59 g/t gold, an indicated resource of 1.02 million ounces at 4.43 g/t, and inferred resources of 0.35 million ounces at 3.47 g/t. The project’s scale and grade position it as a significant asset in Europe’s gold sector, with historical exploration suggesting further mineralisation potential within EMC Gold’s tenure.

The leadership changes come amid ongoing efforts to secure regulatory approvals and advance development plans. The company’s focus on permitting and stakeholder engagement aligns with recent procedural rulings that clarified urban planning processes without affecting the project’s technical merits, indicating a pathway forward despite earlier setbacks.

Governance and Market Implications

Non-Executive Chairman Lavandeira, based in Spain and deeply familiar with the local mining landscape, highlighted the importance of Ahlenius’s appointment in strengthening EMC Gold’s project and people focus. Lavandeira also acknowledged Roberts’s contributions over the past two years in progressing Salave’s development.

This leadership realignment signals EMC Gold’s intent to deepen its Spanish operational footprint and investor engagement, particularly as the company builds momentum following recent capital raises and regulatory interactions. The CEO’s local presence and industry connections could prove pivotal in navigating the complex permitting environment and unlocking Salave’s value.