Aim- and ASX-listed Africa-focused lithium explorer and developer Atlantic Lithium has appointed Jonathan Henry to the company's board of directors as an independent non-executive director.

The company’s flagship project – the Ewoyaa lithium project – set to be Ghana’s first lithium-producing mine, is being advanced to production under an agreement with Piedmont Lithium.

In June 2023, Atlantic Lithium announced its definitive feasibility study for the Ewoyaa project, confirming its economic viability and profitability potential for the production of 3.6-million t of spodumene concentrate over a 12 year life of mine.

Henry is a senior executive with significant, global-listed company experience, primarily in the mining industry, having held various leadership and board roles for nearly two decades.

In his role as Independent non-executive director, Henry will be focused on maintaining good corporate governance in the interests of all shareholders.

His appointment also recognises the importance of having independent directors on the board, particularly as Atlantic Lithium continues to grow.

He currently serves as non-executive chair of TSX-V-listed battery metals development company Giyani Metals Corporation – advancing its portfolio of manganese oxide projects in Botswana, having previously held the role of executive chairperson until May 2023.

Through his extensive career in the industry, Henry has been heavily involved in the strategic management and leadership of projects towards production, commercialisation and, ultimately, the realisation of shareholder value.

In his career to-date, Henry has gained significant experience working across capital markets, business development, project financing, key stakeholder engagement (including public and investor relations) and the reporting and implementation of environmental, social and governance-focused initiatives.

Henry's former roles within the mining sector include as executive chairperson and non-executive director at Euronext Growth and Aim-listed Ormonde Mining; non-executive director at TSX-V-listed Ashanti Gold; president, director and CEO at TSX-listed Gabriel Resources; and various roles, including CEO and MD at LSE- and Oslo Stock Exchange-listed Avocet Mining.

Henry holds a BA (Hons) in natural sciences from Trinty College, Dublin, Ireland.

In line with Henry's appointment and on the date that he assumes his position as independent non-executive director, Len Kolff, Atlantic Lithium’s head of business development and chief geologist, will step down from his role on the board.

Atlantic Lithium executive chairperson Neil Herbert says Henry is a highly regarded mining executive with excellent credentials and directly relevant experience of working in Africa.

“Having held leadership and board positions within companies across a multitude of stock exchanges globally, he brings significant capital markets expertise, as well as a proven track record of successfully delivering value at both the project and company level.

"As we approach construction at the Ewoyaa lithium project, [Henry’s] learnings from his career to date, particularly from bringing projects he has worked on through to production, will be invaluable to the company,” says Herbert.

"I would also like to take the opportunity, on behalf of the board, to thank Len Kolff for his considerable contributions as a director since his appointment to the board in March 2022.

“Len joined the board at a challenging time for the company, following the untimely passing of the founder of the company. His input through this period was, without doubt, instrumental in guiding the company to where Atlantic Lithium is today," concludes Herbert.