Lynas COO to assume CEO from April

MELBOURNE: Mining company Lynas will have a new chief executive from April as it ramps up its production of rare earths products, especially in Kuantan.

Eric Noyez, the company's chief operating officer and president, will be appointed to the Lynas board and become its chief executive on March 31, Lynas said in a statement Monday.

He previously worked as a senior manager with French chemicals group Rhodia and Shell.

Current Lynas chief executive Nicholas Curtis will remain on the board as non-executive chairman.

The change reflects Lynas' recent transition from a developer to a producer of rare earths products as its Malaysian plant began making its first products for sale in February.

Lynas mines rare earths -- metallic elements used in products ranging from digital televisions, mp3 players and fluorescent light bulbs -- at Mount Weld in Western Australia.-- Bernama