FerrAus Ltd has named former BHP Billiton Ltd executive Mike Amundsen as its new managing director and chief executive.
Mr Amundsen took up his new role this week, as FerrAus took full ownership of the Silver Swan North nickel and gold joint venture after the withdrawal of BHP Billiton and Mithril Resources Ltd.
The project near Kalgoorlie, Western Australia neighbours the Black Swan nickel mine, which Russia's Norilsk Nickel mothballed in February due to the slumped nickel price.
Mr Amundsen's last role with BHP Billiton was as vice-president of business development and director of business development in the iron ore business.
"Mr Amundsen's appointment has been made at a very important and exciting period of the development of the company's Pilbara iron ore projects in Western Australia," FerrAust chairman John Nyvlt said in a statement on Friday.
Mr Amundsen will be based in Perth even though FerrAus' principal place of business will be relocated to Adelaide from Perth.
