Highland Gold Mining Limited announced that Denis Ryzhkin has been appointed executive director. Ryzhkin will be responsible for improving production performance, operating efficiency, as well as increasing the material and raw material base at the company's mining assets. Ryzhkin was the deputy operating director of Nordgold until recently and oversaw the activities of all of the company's mines in Russia and Kazakhstan. He also headed Buryatzoloto, a member of the Nordgold group. Prior to that, he worked at other Nordgold organizations as executive director of the Berezitovy mine, head of the Lefa mine in Guinea, and curator of open pit mines.