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  • Australian Strategic Materials (ASM) Managing Director and CEO David Woodall will step down from his roles and leave the company immediately
  • In light of this, Chief Operating Officer Rowena Smith has been appointed as CEO and will be paid $580,000 per year, including superannuation
  • She has been with ASM for a year, where she has overseen areas of the Dubbo project and the Korean Metals Plant
  • Prior to this, Ms Smith held roles at South 32, Rio Tinto, and BHP, with almost 30 years of global mining experience
  • Shares in Australian Strategic Materials are down 7.06 per cent to $3.03 at 10:14 am AEST

Australian Strategic Materials (ASM) Managing Director and CEO David Woodall has stepped down from his roles and left the company.

The company did not give a reason for Mr Woodall’s departure.

The ASM board has now appointed Chief Operating Officer Rowena Smith as CEO. Ms Smith will be paid $580,000 per year, including superannuation.

In addition, she has the opportunity to receive long and short-term incentives based on her performance.

She has been COO of Australian Strategic Materials for a year, where she has overseen areas of the Dubbo project and the Korean Metals Plant.

Prior to this, Ms Smith held roles at South 32, Rio Tinto, and BHP, with almost 30 years of global mining experience.

ASM Chairman Ian Gandel said he was confident Ms Smith’s skills could help bring about company growth.

“We are delighted that Rowena is leading the company through the next phase of its development,” Mr Gandel said.

“Rowena has demonstrated that she is a highly capable leader, underpinned by her extensive experience and track record in the mining sector.

“With this appointment, the board has confidence there will be a seamless leadership transition, enabling ASM to continue to focus on delivering its mine-to-metals strategy.“

Shares in Australian Strategic Materials were down 7.06 per cent to $3.03 at 10:14 am AEST.

ASM by the numbers
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