ASX-listed Deep Yellow on Tuesday announced the appointment of Greg Field as its next MD and CEO, with the former Rio Tinto executive set to take up the role no later than May 1.

Field is succeeding veteran uranium executive John Borshoff, who resigned in October, bringing an end to a career that has spanned five decades in the global uranium industry.

The company said in an announcement that Field’s appointment followed a comprehensive search tied to its leadership transition plan. The board prioritised candidates with “strong execution capability”, a track record in delivering capital projects and familiarity with the jurisdictions where Deep Yellow operates.

Field, a mining engineer, previously served as Rio Tinto’s MD for project development and brings 29 years’ experience across operations and studies. His portfolio includes major project execution across commodities such as diamonds, copper, aluminium and lithium.

During his tenure at Rio Tinto, he delivered large developments including the $7-billion Oyu Tolgoi underground project, the $400-million Rincon DLE plant in Argentina and the $1.3-billion AP60 aluminium smelter in Quebec.

He began his career in South Africa and is familiar with Namibia, one of Deep Yellow’s key operating regions, and has lived and worked in Western Australia, including in remote operations during his tenure with Argyle Diamonds. His global career experience spans South Africa, Australia, Mongolia, the US, Canada and Argentina.

Field said he was “honoured to join Deep Yellow at such a pivotal time for the company and the broader uranium sector”, adding: “I believe uranium has a key role to play in the global transition to clean energy, and Deep Yellow is uniquely positioned to contribute to that shift.”

He said he was impressed by the company’s progress on the Tumas project and aligned with its strategy. “With two execution ready projects in Tumas and Mulga Rock, the company is well-positioned to capture the upside potential of the market and deliver long-term value to shareholders,” he said.

Executive chair Chris Salisbury said the board was “delighted to have attracted Greg”, noting that his arrival comes “at the perfect time to own the near-term Tumas FID decision and then follow through with execution of this derisked growth project”.

He added that Field brings “considerable execution skills and extensive experience in delivering multiple large-scale resource projects” and that the company’s strategy “remains unchanged” as it continues “the orderly derisking of the Tumas project while also watching the uranium market develop the conditions necessary to support greenfield development.”