Andrew Prelea, who is president of Vast's Romanian subsidiary and has been crucial to the company's success in that part of the world, will assume the role of CEO. It is anticipated he will join the board in due course.  

 

Brian Moritz, chairman of Vast, said: "Roy has had an invaluable contribution to our company - stewarding Vast from an exploration and development company back in 2014, to a production company with two operating mines and a third due to come on stream in the very near future."  

 

When Pitchford, born in Zimbabwe, joined Vast's board three years ago, it was almost exclusively focused on the southern African country. Since then, the company's focus has increasingly turned to Romania, hence the reason for the change.

 

Earlier this year, Vast sold off a 25% interest in the subsidiary holding the Pickstone-Peerless and Giant gold mines in Zimbabwe.

 

Its Manaila mine in Romania produced 1,082 tonnes of copper and 118t of zinc in the September quarter, while it is hoping to complete a mining licence transfer at its 80%-owned Baita Plai polymetallic project in the near future.