Lynas taps new chief as production ramps-up
President and chief operating officer Eric Noyrez will take over as chief executive on March 31, while Mr Curtis will remain on the company's board as non-executive chairman.
Lynas said the reshuffle, which also saw Lynas director Liam Forde named deputy chairman, was part of its transition towards making rare earth products.
"Achieving our first rare earths production last week is a significant transnational milestone, and a fitting time for us to allow Eric to take over all executive responsibility," Mr Curtis said.
Mr Noyrez was previously president of Rhodia Silcea, a division of chemical company Rhodia, which specialises in rare earths and silica. A Lynas spokesman said Mr Noyrez was recruited in 2010 with such a transition in mind.
"With the announcement last week about first production, it's just a logical time for the board. Nick Curtis and the board felt it was a good time to take the next step - which was to separate the chief executive's responsibilities from the chairmanship," the spokesman said.
BBY analyst Mike Harrowell welcomed Mr Noyrez's appointment, saying he was "a very experienced operator with a lifetime in the rare earths business".
Lynas had an operating loss of $48.8 million for the six months to December, compared with an operating loss of $36.5 million in the previous corresponding period.
Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…
Lynas Corp announced that Eric Noyrez, currently president and chief operating officer, will take over as chief executive on March 31. Nicholas Curtis will step down as CEO and remain on the board as non‑executive chairman.
Lynas said the reshuffle—separating the CEO responsibilities from the chairmanship—was part of its transition towards making rare earths products, and the timing followed the company’s first rare earths production at its Malaysian plant.
Eric Noyrez was president of Rhodia Silcea, a division of chemical company Rhodia that specialises in rare earths and silica. Lynas recruited him in 2010 with the company’s rare‑earth transition in mind, and an analyst described him as a very experienced operator in the rare earths business.
After stepping down as chief executive, Nicholas Curtis will remain on Lynas’s board as non‑executive chairman.
Yes. The board reshuffle also named Lynas director Liam Forde as deputy chairman as part of the company’s leadership changes.
Lynas’s controversial Malaysian plant produced its first rare earths products just weeks before the leadership change—an important production milestone for the company’s shift into rare earths manufacturing.
BBY analyst Mike Harrowell welcomed Noyrez’s appointment, calling him “a very experienced operator with a lifetime in the rare earths business.”
Lynas reported an operating loss of US$48.8 million for the six months to December, compared with an operating loss of US$36.5 million in the previous corresponding period.
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