Ascot Resources Ltd. said Oct. 8 that it appointed board member Rick Zimmer as nonexecutive independent chairman, effective Oct. 7.

The chairman role will help the board and management more effectively develop the company, it added.

Only days earlier, Ascot appointed Derek White as the new president and CEO after John Toffan stepped down due to health reasons.

In the latest statement, the company also announced John Kiernan's appointment as COO, also effective Oct. 7. Kiernan was vice president for project development at Magellan Minerals Ltd. He is serving as a director of Kapuskasing Gold Ltd. and Northern Superior Resources Inc.