He will also fill the role of vice president for the company's Chile subsidiary, Compañia Minera Vizcachitas Holding.

Palma is a mining engineer with over 40 years' experience. He worked previously as general manager of Codelco's Andina division.

Prior to this he was country manager in Chile for Yamaha Gold (CN:YRI), worked on Barrick Gold's (US:ABX) Pascua-Lama and Veladero projects and was involved in the construction, commissioning and running of Glencore (LN:GLEN) and Anglo American's (LN:AAL) joint venture, Cia Minera Dona Ines de Collahuasi.