Troubled RubiconMinerals Corp. said March 31 that it has appointed director Julian Kempas president, CEO and chairman of the board on an interim basis, effective April1.

Kemp, who has been with the company since 2010 as a board member,is replacing Chairman David Beatty and interim President and CEO Michael Winship,who resigned to assume the role of president of the Canadian Institute of Mining,Metallurgy, and Petroleum, beginning in May.

Meanwhile, Beatty has resigned to pursue other interests.

The company has started a search for a new chairman, presidentand CEO as part of Rubicon's next steps in advancing its review of strategic alternatives.

In March, the company was continuing the evaluation of strategic alternatives and was in talks withits lenders and other parties after breaching a certain covenant under a US$50 millionloan facility it secured for the Phoenixgold project in Ontario.