Metals Exploration appoints new CEO

Bowden has 25 years' experience in mining across technical, operational and directorships covering coal mining and hard rock operations in more than seven countries. He has been involved in building mines from greenfield projects to working with and developing brownfield operations, both underground and open cast, as well as improving and sustaining existing operations.

He joins the group from Colombian gold company Minesa, where he held the position of CEO and oversaw the designing, developing and licensing of Minesa's flagship underground Soto Norte project in the Province of Santander in north-central Colombia.

Prior to Minesa, Bowden held senior operational and technical positions including board director and Contract CEO at DuSolo Fertilizers in 2015, vice president of operations for Nyrstar USA Inc. from January 2014 to July 2015, and six years with Glencore.

At 1430 GMT, the shares were up 122% to 0.89p.