Former BHP and Fortescue mines manager Isak Buitendag has been appointed as the new chief executive of Salt Lake Potash.
Mr Buitendag replaces Tony Swiericzuk who stepped down from the role last month but will remain on the board as an executive director.
The appointment comes nearly two months after Salt Lake revised the ramp-up strategy for its $264 million Lake Way project in the Mid West, following delays, and suspended its shares from trading.
Mr Buitendag joins the Ian Middlemas-chaired company from his position as general manager of transformation at Kazzinc, a Glencore-controlled business that is Kazakhstan’s largest producer of zinc, copper, lead and precious metals.
Before that, Mr Buitendag was the chief operating officer at ferrochrome producer Kazchrome.
He also served in various roles at Fortescue Metals Group, including as general manager of its Cloudbreak iron ore mine and as a director of external affairs, between 2009 and 2015.
In January 2009, Mr Buitendag was dismissed as general manager of BHP Billiton’s Ravensthorpe nickel operation, which was closed shortly after.
Mr Buitendag – who served six years in the role – claimed unfair dismissal and sought $2 million in damages from BHP but lost his Supreme Court battle November 2012.
Salt Lake announced Mr Buitendag’s appointment to the ASX today, having said the board looked forward to his leadership in bringing Lake Way to a sustainable and profitable operation.
“I am excited to be joining SO4 [Salt Lake Potash] at such a critical stage of its development and look forward to working with the team to deliver Lake Way and grow the business into a meaningful player in the global SOP [sulphate of potash] market,” Mr Buitendag said.
Salt Lake expects first SOP production this financial year, of between 85,000t and 105,000t.
