Sean Duffy joins as chief financial offer, while Evan Spencer will take up the role of non-executive director and chairman of the technical committee.

The firm said that the appointments further develop the company’s leadership team formed to deliver on long-term strategy and near-term objectives as it continues to optimise its Cononish Gold Mine, Scotland’s first commercial gold mine, into a +23,500 ounce per annum run-rate operation by end of Q1 2023.

Mr Duffy has more than 25 years of finance experience in the mining industry, previously as CFO and company secretary for ASX and UK Listed Adriatic Metals Plc, TSX-V and ASX-listed Black Dragon Gold and for TSX-V listed Asian Mineral Resources.

Previously, Mr Duffy was CFO and company secretary for AIM-listed Anglo Asian Mining Plc and has held senior finance roles at BHP Billiton’s global operations, including finance director of BHP Billiton Indonesia.

Mr Spencer has held senior roles with Barrick Gold, Western Mining Corporation, Placer Dome, Kagara Corp, Gold Fields Ltd and Aditya Birla Minerals, and led the ramp-up and production of the Ban Phuc nickel mine and Nevada Copper mine as CEO of the respective companies.

His exceptional depth of experience in managing mining operations both underground and open pit globally, will be invaluable as the Company advances the underground mine at Cononish and its organic growth pipeline.

Peter Hetherington, Scotgold Resources chairman, said: “I want to thank both Richard and Phillip for their long distinguished service to Scotgold. We are delighted to welcome Sean and Evan to the Board, they bring a wealth of experience in terms of financial, operational and market expertise and are ideally placed to help us deliver on our short and mid-long-term objectives.”