PDAC Names Andrew Cheatle New Executive Director

TORONTO, ON--(Marketwired - January 14, 2015) - The Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada's (PDAC) Board of Directors is pleased to announce the hiring of Andrew Cheatle as its new Executive Director, effective February 2. Mr. Cheatle joins the PDAC with more than 25 years of experience in the mining and mineral exploration industry. As PDAC Executive Director, Mr. Cheatle's priorities will include maintaining the organization's strategic focus on Access to Capital, Access to Land and Aboriginal Affairs, as well as continuing to build the PDAC brand domestically and internationally.

"The PDAC Board of Directors is very enthusiastic about having someone with Andrew's management experience, passion and drive to lead the association. He will continue the great work the PDAC has achieved by bringing the important and complex issues of our members to the national stage," says PDAC President Rod Thomas. "He will be a great voice for our industry given his experience, including his leadership in domestic and international exploration on five continents, his experience in mining operations, and as President and CEO of a junior exploration company."

Mr. Cheatle most recently served as President and Chief Executive Officer, Director at Unigold Inc. Prior to his time at Unigold, Cheatle served in senior roles as Vice President Exploration at Treasury Metals Inc., General Manager, Director at Landore Resources Canada Inc., Principal Geologist at AMEC plc, Chief Geologist at Goldcorp Inc./Placer Dome Inc., and Mineral Resource Manager at Anglo American Corporation

"The PDAC is a tremendous organization, known the world over for its convention and increasingly for its advocacy and its role in shaping public policy. The role for me is very exciting and brings together many aspects of my work, leadership and management experience to the national and international stage," says Mr. Cheatle.

Over his 25 year career, Mr. Cheatle has held senior positions in the Canadian and international minerals industry, working with Boards of Directors, governments, not-for-profit organizations and the public. In these roles he has gained substantial experience internationally and in Canada working with First Nation communities, as well as implementing and promoting the importance of CSR programs. Mr. Cheatle has been a strong advocate for the minerals industry throughout his career, notably through his volunteer work as President and Councillor with the Association of Professional Geoscientists of Ontario.

"Although the industry is currently facing some challenges, there are still opportunities. This is a great time to seize 'value for money' opportunities and attend to mergers and acquisitions that make business sense," adds Cheatle. "Some of the most successful mining entrepreneurs that I know started in tough markets and delivered success for themselves and investors as the market cycle turned positive."

Mr. Cheatle earned a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Geology from the Royal School of Mines at Imperial College London and a Master of Business Administration from Capella University. He currently serves as Past President of the Association of Professional Geoscientists of Ontario (APGO), is a Member of the Presidential Advisory Committee-Economic Development at Lakehead University, and has been a Fellow at the Geological Society of London since 1999.

About the PDAC
The Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) is a national association representing the mineral exploration and development industry. The PDAC has more than 10,000 individual and corporate members, and encourages the highest standards of technical, environmental, safety and social practices in Canada and around the world. The PDAC also hosts the mineral industry's largest annual convention in downtown Toronto. The PDAC 2015 Convention will take place from March 1 to March 4.