By Robb M. Stewart
MELBOURNE--Aquarius Platinum Ltd. (AQP.AU) Monday said Stuart
Murray has resigned as chief executive and also as chairman of the
platinum producer's main South African unit.
The resignation was effective last Friday, although Mr. Murray
will remain employed by Aquarius until March 31 to help with an
orderly handover to a successor, the company said in a statement to
the Australian securities exchange.
The company added its board would consider a replacement in due
course, and in the interim has named Jean Nel, currently commercial
director, as chief operating officer. Zwelakhe Mankazana, a
non-executive director of the South African unit, has been named
interim chairman of Aquarius Platinum South Africa Pty Ltd.
Mr. Murray joined Aquarius in May 2001 and became CEO in
September of that year following a 17-year career in the South
African platinum industry that began at Impala Platinum Holdings
Ltd. (IMP.JO) in 1984.
Aquarius in June closed the Everest mine in South Africa due to
weak prices for platinum group metals and troubles with its
workforce.
Write to Robb M. Stewart at robb.stewart@wsj.com
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