MANAGEMENT & BOARD
Management
Mark Brennan
Chief Executive Officer & Chairman
Mark Brennan is Cerrado Gold’s CEO and Chairman. He is a Founding Partner and Executive Chairman of Ascendant Resources Inc. and Executive Chairman of Voyager Metals, and has more than 30 years of financial and operating experience in the Americas and Europe. Mr. Brennan most recently served as president and CEO of Sierra Metals Inc., a major zinc-lead-silver-copper mining company with operations in Peru and Mexico. Prior to that, he was the president and CEO of Largo Resources Ltd., and a founder of several resource companies, including Desert Sun Mining, Brasoil Corp., Morumbi Oil and Gas, and Admiral Bay Resources.
Cliff Hale-Sanders, MBA, CFA
President
Mr. Hale-Sanders is one of the founding partners in the formation of Ascendant Resources Inc. Prior to this Mr. Hale-Sanders’ had a career that spanned over 20 years in the capital markets industry working as a leading base metals and bulk commodities research analyst in Canada working at RBC Capital Markets, TD Securities, CIBC World Markets and Cormark Securities. During this period, Mr. Hale-Sanders visited and reviewed numerous mining operations and corporate entities around the world. Mr. Hale-Sanders holds a B.Sc. in Geology and Chemistry, an MBA from McMaster University and is a CFA Charterholder.
Jason Brooks, CPA, CA
Chief Financial Officer
Mr. Brooks is a Chartered Professional Accountant with over 18 years of experience in finance and accounting at international mining companies. Prior to joining Cerrado Gold, he was Vice President, Finance of Caldas Gold until it was acquired by Aris Gold. Prior to his time at Caldas, Mr. Brooks served in progressively senior roles at several international mining companies including Golden Star Resources, New Gold and Barrick Gold.
Casper Groenewald
Chief Operating Officer
Mr. Groenewald is a qualified metallurgist and has over 20 years of mineral processing experience in Africa and the Americas. He was the Senior Vice-President of DRA America and former Technical Director for Largo Resources where he led the commissioning and optimization of its Vanadium processing facility in Brazil. He is the former Operations director at Minopex, where he managed the operation of five diamond mines, and has also worked for Vantech (Xstrata’s Vanadium division), Highveld Steel and Vanadium Corporation.
Andrew Croal, MBA, P.Eng.
Chief Technical Officer
Mr. Croal is a Mining Engineer with 40 years of global mining experience in gold and base metal commodities. He is a versatile and practical mining professional with a proven track record of providing fit for purpose, workable solutions. His competence ranges to all aspects of mine planning, control, reporting and evaluation and combines technical expertise with safe operating requirements for all facets of the mining cycle. He has experience in Canada, South America, Africa, Australia and Papua New Guinea, having held senior roles in both Senior and Junior mining firms. He was a key member of several mine-building teams, most notably Rosebel (Iamgold), Detour Gold and Buzwagi (Barrick Gold). Andrew is a Professional Engineer in Ontario and has a BSc Mining Engineering from Queen’s and an MBA from the University of Toronto.
Sergio Gelcich, PHD
Vice President, Exploration
Dr. Sergio Gelcich is an exploration geologist with over 20 years experience in geological sciences with emphasis in the mining and exploration industries through Canada, United States, the Caribbean and Latin America. He most recently served as Director Exploration for Hudbay Minerals where he led the corporate geology/exploration team, contributing with green to brown field exploration and also with the geological understanding of Hudbay’s operations. Prior, Sergio was the Regional (Americas) Exploration Manager for GlobeStar Mining. Sergio’s field experience includes almost every country in the Americas, encompassing precious and base metals, and a broad range of geological environments. Sergio has an Honours Bachelor of Science in Geology and a Master of Science in Geology from the Universidad de Chile, and a PhD in Geology from the University of Toronto.
Carl Calandra, LL.B., MBA
Vice President, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary
Mr. Calandra is a legal executive with more than 15 years of advisory, transactional and public company experience. Prior to joining Cerrado, Mr. Calandra was Vice President and General Counsel of Dundee Corporation, a Canadian investment company focused on mining, and was an associate at a top-tier Canadian national law firm. Carl holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Western Ontario and a Master of Business Administration from the Ivey Business School. Carl has been a member of the Law Society of Ontario since 2006.
Veronica Nohara
President & Country Manager, Argentina
Mrs. Veronica Nohara is an international business professional with more than 20 years experience in executive positions across various industries. Prior to joining Cerrado Veronica was Chief Executive Officer for Minera Don Nicolas and was instrumental in the successful start-up and operation of the gold facility. Veronica has a long history managing and directing businesses in different industries in Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Japan. Veronica has served on different chambers such as ABC (Argentine Beef Consortium), AFARTE, CAEM and is Honorary Director of Women in Mining. She is currently the President of the Chamber of Mining for the Province of Santa Cruz).Veronica holds a Bachelors Degree in international trade from Universidad Argentina de la Empresa, a Posgrade in International Business and a Master of Business Administration from University Torcuato Di Tella.
David Ball
Vice President, Business Development
Mr. Ball was most recently Chief Financial Officer of Santiago Metals Limitada, a private Chilean based copper producer and portfolio company of US Private Equity group, Denham Capital. Prior to his current role he held several positions at Macquarie Capital, an Australian Investment Bank During his career in the metals and mining sector, Mr. Ball has been actively involved in M&A, corporate advisory and fund raising of both equity and debt Mr. Ball brings mining focused operational and capital markets experience from Australia, South East Asia and North South America Mr. Ball holds a Bachelor of Commerce with Distinction (Curtin University) and a Masters of Finance (INSEAD).
Mike McAllister, CPIR
Vice President, Investor Relations
Mike McAllister has over 19 years of experience working with public mining companies, the last 12 as a mining specialized investor relations professional. He most recently was with Superior Gold and prior to that Sierra Metals where he helped the company complete the dual US listing progress and helped see the company progress from a small to a mid-tier diversified producer. Mr. McAllister also has worked at Avion Gold Corp., which was acquired by Endeavour Mining. Before working in investor relations roles, he worked at BMO Capital Markets in the Metals & Mining Group. Mike holds the Certified Professional Investor Relations (CPIR) designation completed at the Ivey School of Business, University of Western Ontario
Board of Directors
Mark Brennan
Chief Executive Officer & Chairman
Mark Brennan is Cerrado Gold’s CEO and Chairman. He is a Founding Partner and Executive Chairman of Ascendant Resources Inc. and Executive Chairman of Voyager Metals, and has more than 30 years of financial and operating experience in the Americas and Europe. Mr. Brennan most recently served as president and CEO of Sierra Metals Inc., a major zinc-lead-silver-copper mining company with operations in Peru and Mexico. Prior to that, he was the president and CEO of Largo Resources Ltd., and a founder of several resource companies, including Desert Sun Mining, Brasoil Corp., Morumbi Oil and Gas, and Admiral Bay Resources.
Kurt Menchen
Director
Mr. Menchen is the past-President of Operations, Brazil, of Largo Resources Ltd, and has over 42 years of experience operating and managing mining projects, including over 20 years as General Manager at the Jacobina Gold project in Bahia State, Brazil. His prior experience also includes Anglo American’s Vaal Reefs underground gold mine in South Africa and De Beers Diamonds in Angola. Mr. Menchen holds a degree in mining engineering from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
Robert Campbell
Director
Mr. Campbell is an exploration geologist with over 45 years experience in mining and exploration industry through Canada, United States and Latin America. He has worked for a number of major mining companies, most notably Noranda and Lac Minerals. Mr. Campbell most recently worked with Largo Resources from its inception in November 2003 to November 2018 as Vice President of Exploration. He has also held other senior management positions such as Vice President of Exploration for Apogee Minerals Ltd.
Elmer Prata Salomão
Director
Elmer Prata Salomão served as General Director of Brazil’s National Department of Mineral Production (DNPM), the federal agency in charge of administration of mineral concessions and the implementation of Brazilian mining policy, from 1990 to 1995. Mr. Salomão is founder and now managing director of well recognized GEOS-Mining Services, originally incorporated in 1974, and is now managing director of EPS Consulting, a solely owned mining consulting company. Mr Salamao was a Director of Verna Minerals Corporate (currently Belo Sun Mining) working with Jad Salomao and Oscar Neto, as part of the team credited with the discovery and definition of Belo Sun’s the Volta Grande Project, a deposit with over 7.0MM ounces of gold.
Jad Salomão
Director
Mr. Salomão has 42 years of experience in mineral exploration & mining and project evaluation with both major and Junior company in Brazil and Canada. He has managed several base metals projects (in special massive sulphides and sedimentary copper), precious metals (gold, PGM), diamonds, Industrial minerals (Ilmenite) and gem (Emerald, Alexandrite) projects. He is presently a major shareholder of the company Monte Sinai Mineração Ltda., which previously held the Serra Alta project. Together with his partner, Oscar Neto, Mr. Salomão founded Verena Mineração Ltda – which became a junior mining company listed in the Toronto Stock Market in Canada from 1996 through 2010 – Verena Minerals Corporation (VMC) – which is now known as Belo Sun Mining Corp. Mr. Salomão and Mr. Oscar Neto are credited with the discovery and definition of the Belo Sun Volta Grande deposit; a deposit with over 7 million ounces of gold.
Robert Sellars
Director
Mr. Sellars has 40 years experience in capital markets and financial services and has significant experience on investment industry committees within the IIROC. Mr. Sellars previously sat on the board of directors of Android Industries, United Hydrocarbons International and Mutual Fund Dealers Association of Canada and currently serves on the board of directors for Dundee Sustainable Technologies. Mr. Sellars holds the position of Chief Financial Officer at Red Cloud Financial Services Inc. Previously, Mr. Sellars served as Chief Financial Officer & Executive Vice President for Dundee Corp., Chief Financial Officer at Dundee Energy Ltd., Chief Financial Officer & Director at CMP 2017 Resource LP, Chief Financial Officer & Director at CMP 2019 Resource LP, Chief Financial Officer & Director at CMP 2021 Resource LP, Chairman for Dundee 360 Real Estate Corp., President of Dundee Securities, Inc., Chief Financial Officer & Chief Operating Officer at Dundee Securities Ltd., Chief Financial Officer & Executive Vice President at Dundee Insurance Agency Ltd. and Chief Financial Officer of Dundee Global Investment Management, Inc.
Christopher Jones, CA, CFA
Director
Mr. Jones is an experienced professional chartered accountant, business valuator, Chief Financial Officer and financial advisor. His significant experience, keen strategic insight and ability to form partnerships with his clients lead to the ultimate goal of increasing their net worth while achieving significant corporate growth. His diverse experience enables him to offer unique solutions for maximum success and profitability. Chris is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA), Chartered Accountant (CA), Licensed Public Accountant (LPA), Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and Chartered Business Valuator (CBV). As the youngest Partner at Williams & Partners, he advises on complex taxation strategies, growth strategies, cash flow management, financing strategies, wealth management, and succession planning. Chris advises several private equity firms on acquisition targets and appropriate due diligence requirements highlighting key risk areas and maximizing target potential while serving as an advisor to high-net worth clients and families. Chris has served as CFO to several mid-market companies. He is the CFO of both AGTA Home Health Care and Bloom Care Solutions. He currently acts as Audit Committee Chair for Lara Exploration Ltd.
Maria Virginia Anzola
Director
Ms. Anzola has over 20 years of experience advising companies in the extraction industry. Ms. Anzola previously held the role of General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for Ascendant Resources and Cerrado gold where she provided leadership and direction on all legal matters. In 2017, Ms. Anzola served as Assistant General Counsel for Primero Mining Corp, and prior to that she served as Senior Counsel for Hudbay Minerals Inc. In addition, Ms. Anzola served as Consultant to the Tax Group of Borden Ladner Gervais LLP for over two years. Prior to moving to Canada, Ms. Anzola spent 11 years in private practice in her home country of Venezuela, mostly advising international companies engaged in the oil and gas business. Ms. Anzola has been called to the BAR in Ontario and Venezuela and has an LL.M from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor and from Osgoode Hall Law School.