Endeavour Mining plc announced the appointment of Srinivasan Venkatakrishnan as an Independent Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Board and Ian Cockerill as the Senior Independent Non-Executive Director (“SID”). Both appointments are effective 24 May 2022. These changes underscore Endeavour's commitment to pursue the highest standards of corporate governance and alignment with the UK Corporate Governance Code, following its listing on the premium segment of the London Stock Exchange in June 2021.

Venkat succeeds Michael Beckett who is retiring from the Board after 12 years as Chair. Ian Cockerill rejoins the Endeavour Board as the SID, having served as a Non-Executive Director between September 2013 and March 2019. Venkat has over 30 years of experience across the natural resources sector in finance, strategy, restructuring, senior executive and board leadership positions.

During this time, his career has spanned across six continents, 15 countries and several metals, notably gold. Venkat was the CEO of the global gold producer, AngloGold Ashanti Limited from 2013 to 2018, and was the Group CEO of the diversified natural resources group Vedanta Resources Limited from 2018 to 2020. He has successfully brought new projects into production, driven portfolio rationalisation, improved productivity and delivered growth and M&A. During his leadership, overall safety and sustainability trends in these companies improved whilst they demonstrated sharpened focus on improving sustainable free cash flow and returns.

Venkat is an Independent Non-Executive Director of BlackRock World Mining Trust plc and Weir Group plc. Venkat is currently a Non-Executive Director of Roscan Gold Corporation (“Roscan"), a TSXV-listed Canadian junior gold exploration company. He will not stand for re-election at the forthcoming Roscan AGM in April 2022, and will move to an advisory role for an agreed period to assist with a smooth transition.

He is a qualified Chartered Accountant and holds a commerce degree. He has been a member of the Financial Review Investigation Panel of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and represented member companies on the Boards of various industry bodies, including the World Gold Council, International Council on Mining and Metals and the South African Chamber of Mines. Ian Cockerill rejoins the Endeavour Board as the SID, having served as a Non-Executive Director between September 2013 and March 2019.

Ian has over 45 years of experience in the global natural resources industry. He has extensive operational, project and leadership experience, having held executive roles at major international mining companies, including Chief Executive Officer of Gold Fields and Anglo Coal, a subsidiary of Anglo American, and non-executive positions. Ian is a Non-Executive Director of BHP Group, a Non-Executive Director of I-Pulse Inc, a Director of the Leadership for Conservation in Africa (a not-for-profit organisation), and is the Chair of Conservation 360, a Botswanan conservation NGO dealing with anti-poaching initiatives.

He was the former Chair of BlackRock World Mining Trust plc and Polymetal International plc, the former Lead Independent Director of Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. and former Director of Orica Limited. He also became a member of the La Mancha Advisory Committee in July 2021 and will step down prior to taking up his position as the SID to maintain his independent status. Ian holds a BSc (Hons) degree in Geology from London University, an MSc in Mineral Production Management from the Royal School of Mines, at Imperial College and participated in the Advanced Management Programme at Templeton College Oxford.