Managing director Dr Eric Lilford will become an executive of the company’s anthracite marketing and advisory committee, while James Chisholm has been appointed executive chairman to assist the current executive directors and Theo Renard has been named commercial vice-president.

Executive director Russell Moran said Renard would help “spearhead” the company’s financial strategy “at a time when we are negotiating anthracite offtake and project finance”

“Renard’s appointment is an important milestone for the company and crucial to the transition from developer to producer,” the company said.

“He will be responsible for implementing both the financial strategy of the company in the context of offtake negotiation and project finance and he will work closely with the executive board, VP operations and VP marketing, in developing and implementing financial policy and frameworks required to support the transition to an ultra-high grade anthracite producer.”

Chisholm is preparing to relocate to Canada, along with executive director Gino D’Anna, to oversee the next stage of Groundhog’s development, which has a JORC resource of 1.57 billion tonnes including high grade and ultra-high grade anthracite.

Ex-BHP coal veteran Rick Greene, another recent appointment, is also preparing to move to Canada and assume the role of mine manager at Groundhog.

Together, Chisholm, Moran and D’Anna and their associated entities have contributed more than $10 million in equity and loan facilities during the company’s two-year public life.