International Battery Metals Ltd. (the "Company" or "IBAT") is pleased to announce the appointment of Libor Michel to serve as Co-Chief Executive Officer, along with Garry Flowers, and Douglas Smith as Chief Financial Officer, effective immediately.
Mr. Michel has decades of experience as a strategic advisor to companies in the energy and energy transition sectors, raising substantial capital and driving transformative acquisition transactions. Mr. Michel joins us after a successful investment banking career at Stifel and Jefferies in their Houston offices.
Mr. Flowers will continue to lead the day-to-day operations and oversee the construction, mobilization and operation of the Company's current and future production facilities. Mr. Michel's primary focus will be corporate development and capital markets activity funding the commercialization of the Company's industry leading technologies.
Mr. Smith joins the Company with over 30 years of experience working with high growth companies, including experience in oilfield services and seismic survey companies which geographically overlap with the worlds' lithium resources. Mr. Smith will be responsible for the accounting, audit, tax and financing plans as we mobilize the Company's production facilities.
"Libor has quickly become our trusted advisor. His joining me as Co-CEO will solidify our already strong management team and give us the firepower to move our Company to the next level. We already have a great working relationship, and I look forward to collaborating together to drive value for our shareholders. Doug walks in day 1 as a seasoned CFO, with great agility, and adding bench strength to our senior leadership team," said Mr. Flowers.
"Libor brings a critical skill set to IBAT. His deep experience in corporate finance and financial transactions will complement the strong operating experience of Garry Flowers and the groundbreaking scientific accomplishments of John Burba. In addition, Doug Smith's impressive experience as a CFO across multiple industries will give IBAT an executive team on which we can build an innovative, successful future in direct lithium extraction." said William Webster, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company.
John Burba, our Founder and Director of Global Technology noted that, "Our Company has industry leading direct lithium extraction technology and we welcome Libor and Doug into the team to take us to full commercialization."
Mr. Michel commented, "I am thrilled at this opportunity, and I am humbled by the trust the Board and Garry have placed in me. I am excited at the prospect of helping drive results and growth of our Company for our shareholders, in a time of great change and opportunity in the lithium extraction industry."
Mr. Smith replaces Daniel H. Christie in his role of Interim CFO. The Company wishes to thank Mr. Christie for his contributions and wishes him the best in his return to retirement. Mr. Christie will continue to work with the Company until the end of the year in order to transition the role.
The Company is also pleased to advise that it has entered into a service agreement (the "Service Agreement") with Dennard Lascar Investor Relations ("Dennard Lascar").
Pursuant to the Service Agreement, Dennard Lascar will provide the Company with assistance in its ongoing investor relations' strategies structured towards shareholder communications and media relation services. Dennard Lascar will provide its services on a project-by-project basis utilizing a standard hourly fee structure coupled with its standard rates for press release distributions.
Dennard Lascar is an investor relations firm based out of Houston, Texas, and has served publicly traded companies since 1997 across a variety of industries including energy, retail, restaurants, banking, finance, insurance, transportation, and industrial. Dennard Lascar and its principals are arm's length from the Company and do not have any interest, direct or indirect, in the Company or its securities. Dennard Lascar's business address is located at 1800 West Loop South, Suite 200, Houston, Texas, 77027. Dennard Lascar's office can be reached at (713) 529-6600, or by email at IBAT@dennardlascar.com.
