TSX-V-listed Aton Resources has appointed Oscar Amigo as COO of its wholly owned subsidiary Aton Mining.

Amigo is a mining engineer with 20 years of global experience in gold and base metals, including operational and senior corporate leadership roles with midtier gold and copper producers, including First Quantum Minerals, B2Gold, Pan American Silver and Atalaya Mining.

He joins Aton with a record defined by operational excellence and strategic leadership in project development and advancement from feasibility through to construction, the company says in statement.

In addition to his operational roles, he also has a strong background in investment and growth strategy, including with La Mancha, where he contributed to portfolio expansion and long-term value creation.

Amigo is a Professional Mine Engineer, having graduated from the Madrid School of Mines, and also holds a postgraduate diploma in Economic Analysis from the Colorado School of Mines, and an MBA from the IESE University of Navarra, Spain.

“I am very pleased to welcome Oscar to Aton. Oscar brings a wealth of practical hands-on experience to Aton as a mining engineer, with a strong background in taking projects from feasibility through to development in multiple jurisdictions around the world,” Aton CEO Tonno Vahk says.

Aton is focused on its 100%-owned Abu Marawat Concession.

“Oscar will be joining the team as COO of our wholly owned subsidiary Aton Mining, and will lead the operations at our 50%-owned joint venture operating company, Abu Marawat Gold Mines (AMGM), in Egypt.

“As such, he will be responsible for accelerating the development of the Hamama West gold/silver mine at our Abu Marawat Concession, as well as taking a seat on the board of AMGM,” Vahk adds.

“Oscar also brings considerable experience to Aton in the fields of mining finance, investment and financial modelling, which will all prove invaluable as the company evaluates the most suitable approach to the development of not only the Hamama West deposit, but also the Rodruin and Abu Marawat polymetallic deposits, as well as the Semna gold deposit at the concession.

“We are delighted with Oscar’s appointment and this represents a significant step forwards for Aton, as it continues on the road to becoming only the second international gold miner in Egypt,” Vahk explains.

Further to the appointment as subsidiary COO, Aton announces that it has granted 300 000 stock options to Amigo at an exercise price of $0.25 per option and expiring five years from the date of issuance.