Vancouver, British Columbia - Bearing Lithium Corp. ("Bearing" or the "Company") (TSX Venture: BRZ) (OTCQB: BLILF) (FRANKFURT: B6K2) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Gil Playford to the Board of Directors as Chairman of the Board. Mr. Playford is a major shareholder owning over 10% of Bearing’s issued and outstanding shares.
Mr. Playford is a seasoned senior mining executive, having spearheaded the sale of LionOre Mining to Norislk Nickel (NILSY-US) in 2007 for C$6.8 billion in cash. Mr. Playford started his professional career with Union Carbide Corp. for 25 years and various senior executive positions including Managing Director in Switzerland, Belgium and Germany. Mr. Playford also was the Chairman and CEO of Union Carbide Canada and Chief Financial Officer of Union Carbide in New York. Mr. Playford became Chairman and CEO of UCAR Carbon, a joint venture with Mitsubishi and took the partnership public as GrafTech International. Mr. Playford then went on to found a nickel and gold mining company with assets in Africa and Australia, LionOre Mining International Ltd., and served as the CEO and subsequently as Chairman. Mr. Playford was instrumental in the sale of LionOre to Norilsk Nickel, a Russian mining conglomerate, in an all-cash offer of C$6.8 billion, having trumped a rival C$6.2 billion offer from Xstrata PLC. Mr. Playford holds an Engineering Degree from McGill University in Montreal and a Masters in Business Administration from York University in Toronto.
Jeremy Poirier, Bearing's president and Chief Executive Officer, commented: "We are excited to welcome Mr. Gil Playford to the Board of Directors and as Chairman of the Board. Gil will also be representing Bearing’s interest on the Board of the joint-venture operating company, Minera Salar Blanco (MSB). Gil’s extensive background with multi-national companies will be invaluable as we advance the Maricunga project and Bearing through towards production. Gil’s significant experience in negotiating with the world’s largest mining houses will be crucial as we navigate through the upcoming project financing discussions and other potential transactions.”
About Bearing Lithium Corp.
Bearing Lithium Corp. is a lithium-focused mineral exploration and development company. Its primary asset is an 18% interest in the Maricunga Lithium
Brine Project in Chile. The Maricunga Project represents one of the highest-grade lithium brine salars globally and the only pre-production project
in Chile. Over US$30 million has been invested in the Maricunga Project to date and all expenditures through to the delivery of a Definitive Feasibility
Study have been fully-funded by the earn-in joint-venture partner.