First Canadian Graphite Inc. has appointed Michael Iverson to its Board of Directors, effective immediately, bringing decades of mining and capital markets experience to the junior mining company focused on advancing high-grade graphite projects in Quebec. The appointment comes as the company positions itself to meet increasing demand for domestically sourced critical minerals essential for battery production and energy storage technologies.
Iverson brings more than two decades of leadership experience in the resource sector, having founded Niogold Mining Corp. and co-founded Fortuna Silver Mines Inc., where he served in senior executive roles including Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and President through 2016. His track record includes leading Niogold's acquisition and exploration of significant land in Val-d'Or, Québec, which positioned the company for its acquisition by Oban Mining Corp. at a substantial premium to market capitalization. At Fortuna, he played an integral role in the company's evolution into an established silver producer with operating mines in Peru and Mexico.
Throughout his career, Iverson has raised, invested, and co-invested more than $100 million in companies he has led and advised, with companies where he has served as CEO and/or director achieving aggregate market capitalizations exceeding $1 billion. He brings expertise in public and private equity markets, strategic planning, corporate governance, and sales and marketing to First Canadian Graphite's board.
"The FCI Team is thrilled to welcome Mike to the Board," said John LaGourgue, CEO of First Canadian Graphite. "He brings extensive experience and a proven track record of building successful resource companies, particularly in Québec, as well as driving shareholder value. Mike will be working closely with management implementing best practices as we expand the resource at our flagship Berkwood Graphite Project and assist the move to becoming a leading graphite producer in North America."
Iverson commented on his appointment, stating, "I am honoured to join the Board of First Canadian Graphite at such an exciting time. With increasing global demand for graphite as a critical material for energy storage and advanced technologies, the Company is well positioned to expand the current resource through drilling and exploration, execute on a PEA and make the required steps towards production."
The company simultaneously announced that Brijender (Binny) Jassal will resign from the board of directors, though he will continue as Chief Financial Officer. Jassal has been a dedicated director since 2017, and the board thanked him for his contributions.
First Canadian Graphite continues to focus on advancing its graphite projects, including the flagship Berkwood Graphite Project located in northern Quebec, which has a 43-101 Resource Estimate Report revealing 3.2 million tonnes of indicated and inferred graphite averaging grades of 17%. The company acknowledges that the Berkwood Project is located within the traditional territory of the Pessamit Innu First Nation and is committed to fostering respectful, transparent, and collaborative relationships with local Indigenous communities throughout development.
The appointment of Iverson signals First Canadian Graphite's strategic positioning in the critical minerals sector, particularly as demand for graphite intensifies for use in electric vehicle batteries, energy storage systems, and advanced manufacturing. The company's focus on Quebec projects aligns with broader North American efforts to secure domestic supply chains for minerals essential to the energy transition. Additional information about the company is available at https://www.firstcanadiangraphite.com, while regulatory filings can be accessed through the company's SEDAR profile at https://www.sedar.com.
