ASX-listed Syrah Resources has appointed Samantha Hogg to its board as an independent nonexecutive director and chair-elect, completing a succession process first announced in May. She will succeed long-standing chair Jim Askew, who will retire from the board on December 31.

Hogg, an experienced director across the transport, infrastructure, energy and resources sectors, currently serves on the boards of Cleanaway Waste Management, GrainCorp and IGO. Her previous governance roles include positions with Adbri, De Grey Mining, the Australian Renewable Energy Agency, Hydro Tasmania, Infrastructure Australia and TasRail. She also chaired Marinus Link and Tasmanian Irrigation.

Her executive background includes senior roles at Transurban Group and WMC Resources across finance, strategic projects, marketing and corporate services. Her most recent executive position was CFO of Transurban.

Hogg said she was joining Syrah at a pivotal stage in its development. “I am pleased to be joining Syrah at this stage in its journey to becoming the leading natural graphite and active anode material producer outside China. I look forward to working with my fellow directors and the Syrah executive team as the company executes its growth strategy. On behalf of the board, I thank Jim for his leadership and guidance over the past decade and wish him well for the future.”

Askew, who has chaired Syrah since 2014, said it had been “an honour and a privilege” to lead the board through the development of the Balama graphite mine in Mozambique and the Vidalia active anode material facility in Louisiana. “The extraordinary market and geopolitical developments of the past decade provide a unique long-term opportunity for these assets and the Syrah team who have developed unique capability and experience.”

He added that Hogg was well placed to guide the company through its next phase. “We are very pleased to have a Chair-Elect of the calibre of Samantha. I have every confidence that she will ensure the board is well placed to guide the board and management team."