Ares Strategic Mining Inc. (CSE: ARS) (OTCQX: ARSMF) (FRA: N8I1) announced a strategic evolution of its Board of Directors, including the appointment of Lorenzo Esteva, a senior financial and international business executive with over 30 years of experience, as the company advances toward operational maturity and a planned transition to a senior U.S. exchange.
Mr. Esteva brings extensive expertise from senior leadership roles at UBS Financial Services, Merrill Lynch, Prospero International, and Golden Ratio CS LLC. His background spans institutional and private capital markets, corporate restructuring, international business expansion, strategic partnerships, and cross-border finance. The appointment underscores Ares’ focus on strengthening its board to support larger-scale operations and increasing engagement with U.S. institutional, commercial, and financial markets.
“As Ares continues to mature into a larger and more institutionally focused company, it is essential that our Board evolves alongside it,” said James Walker, President and CEO of Ares Strategic Mining. “Lorenzo brings an exceptional combination of banking, corporate finance, restructuring, and international commercial expertise that will be invaluable as we continue scaling operations, expanding internationally, and preparing for the next level of public market participation.”
The board transition reflects Ares’ evolution from a development-stage mining company into an emerging strategic materials supplier with active mining operations, expanding processing infrastructure, major U.S. government contracts, and increasing international commercial opportunities. The company is also pursuing planned uplisting initiatives, including a potential move to the Nasdaq.
Mr. Esteva’s appointment is expected to strengthen the company’s institutional market readiness, banking and financial relationships, commercial structuring capabilities, and international business development efforts. “Ares is entering a transformative period,” added Walker. “Our operational progress, strategic government relationships, and expanding market position require a board with deep commercial and financial expertise capable of supporting a company operating at a much larger scale.”
As part of the transition, Paul Sarjeant and Raul Sanabria have stepped down from the Board of Directors. The company thanked both individuals for their contributions during Ares’ formative growth stages and its advancement toward becoming the only domestic fluorspar producer in the United States.
Ares Strategic Mining is focused on developing its fluorspar projects in the U.S., including the 100%-owned Lost Sheep Fluorspar Project in Delta, Utah, which consists of 5,982 acres and 353 claims. The project is fully permitted, with mining plans approved by the Bureau of Land Management. A NI 43-101 Technical Report identified extensive high-grade fluorspar with low levels of impurities.
