Vancouver, British Columbia -
Newsfile Corp. - July 15, 2026 -
RZOLV Technologies Inc. (TSXV: RZL) (OTCQB: RZOLF) (FSE: S711) ("RZOLV" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of
John C. McConnell to its Board of Directors, effective July 14
th, 2026.
The appointment strengthens the Company's governance, technical
oversight and mining-industry experience as RZOLV advances the
independent validation, scale-up and potential commercialization of its
non-cyanide hydrometallurgical platform for the recovery of gold, silver
and selected critical minerals.
About John C. McConnell
John C. McConnell is a mining executive with more than 40 years of
experience in mine development, operations, corporate leadership,
project financing and governance. Throughout his career, he has led the
advancement of major mining projects from exploration through
permitting, financing, construction and commercial production, while
raising more than US$1 billion in capital to support project development
and corporate growth.
Mr. McConnell is currently Chief Executive Officer of 44984 Capital, a
private investment company focused on strategic investments across the
global mining sector, primarily focused on gold, silver, and copper.
Investments include exploration, development, and production issuers,
both public and private.
Mr. McConnell most recently served as President, Chief Executive Officer
and Director of Victoria Gold Corp., where he led the acquisition,
development, financing, construction and operation of Victoria Gold's
Eagle Gold Mine in the Yukon Territory. Under his leadership, Eagle
became Canada's newest large-scale gold mine and one of the Yukon
Territory's most significant private-sector investments, producing
approximately 180,000 ounces of gold annually while establishing strong
partnerships with First Nations, governments, investors and local
communities.
Prior to Victoria Gold, Mr. McConnell served as President and Chief
Executive Officer of Western Keltic Mines Inc., as Vice President of
Northwest Territories Projects for De Beers Canada Inc., where he led
the development of the Snap Lake Diamond Mine, and held senior
management positions with Winspear Diamonds Inc., Breakwater Resources
Ltd. and Strathcona Mineral Services Ltd. His experience spans mine
engineering, project development, operations, mergers and acquisitions,
corporate finance, environmental and regulatory permitting, stakeholder
engagement and corporate governance across gold, silver, base metals and
diamond projects.
He has also served on the boards and board committees of numerous public
and private resource companies and industry organizations, contributing
extensive experience in governance, technical oversight, risk
management, sustainability and long-term shareholder value creation.
Mr. McConnell holds a Bachelor of Science in Mining Engineering from the
Colorado School of Mines. He is the recipient of the 2024 PDAC Viola
MacMillan Award, the 2023 AME Murray Pezim Award and the 2022 AME E.A.
Scholz Award in recognition of his contributions to the Canadian mining
industry.
Management Commentary
"We are very pleased to welcome John to the RZOLV Board," said
Duane Nelson, President and Chief Executive Officer of RZOLV Technologies Inc.
"John has spent more than four decades advancing major mining projects
through permitting, financing, construction and commercial production.
His experience, technical knowledge and relationships throughout the
mining industry, governments, First Nations and capital markets will be
extremely valuable as RZOLV moves into its next phase of development."
"RZOLV is advancing a potentially important alternative to conventional
cyanide-based gold recovery," continued Mr. Nelson. "John's first-hand
experience in mine development, heap-leach operations, environmental
assessment, stakeholder engagement and project finance will
significantly strengthen our Board as we pursue independent validation,
strategic partnerships and commercial-scale opportunities."
"I am pleased to join the Board of RZOLV Technologies," said
John C. McConnell. "The mining industry requires practical
technologies that can improve metal recovery while addressing the
environmental, regulatory and operational challenges associated with
conventional processing. RZOLV is developing an innovative non-cyanide
hydrometallurgical platform, and I look forward to working with Duane,
the Board and the Company's technical team as the technology advances
through independent testing, scale-up and commercialization."
Grant of Stock Options
In connection with his appointment, the Board has approved the grant to Mr. McConnell of
250,000 incentive stock options.
The Company has also approved the grant of an aggregate of
767,117 incentive stock options to certain directors, officers,
employees and consultants of the Company in recognition of their ongoing
contributions and to further align their interests with the long-term
interests of the Company and its shareholders.
The options are exercisable at a price of
$0.35 per common share for a period of
five years and will expire on
July 14, 2031. The options will vest
immediately and were granted in accordance with the terms of the
Company's Omnibus Incentive Plan and the policies of the TSX Venture
Exchange.
Amendment to Termination Clause
Effective July 14, 2026, the Company approved certain amendments to the
termination clauses within the executive employment agreement for Reza
Kafaei, the Company's Chief Innovation Officer (the "CIO"). Pursuant to
the amendment, if the CIO is terminated without just cause, the Company
will pay the CIO two times annual compensation plus two times the
average annual bonus paid, if any, during the last three full years of
employment immediately upon such termination, and all incentive
securities granted to the CIO shall immediately vest and be exercisable
in accordance with the Company's Omnibus Incentive Plan.
About RZOLV Technologies Inc.
RZOLV Technologies Inc. is developing a water-based, non-cyanide
hydrometallurgical platform for the recovery of gold, silver and
selected critical minerals from ores, concentrates, refractory
materials, spent heap-leach pads, tailings and legacy process residues.
The RZOLV platform is designed to operate under controlled aqueous
conditions and to integrate with established metal-recovery
technologies, including activated carbon, ion exchange and
electrowinning. The Company's development strategy emphasizes
feed-specific metallurgical testing, independent third-party validation,
closed-loop solution management and progressive scale-up from
laboratory testing through pilot and field demonstration programs.
For further information:
Duane Nelson
President & CEO
RZOLV Technologies Inc.
Tel: +1-604-332-2662
Email:
duane@rzolv.com
Website:
rzolv.com
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" and
"forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian
securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not
limited to, statements regarding the anticipated contribution of Mr.
McConnell to the Board of Directors; the Company's plans for independent
validation, technical development, scale-up, strategic partnerships and
commercialization; and the potential applications, performance and
benefits of the RZOLV technology platform.
Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other
factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to
differ materially from those expressed or implied, including, without
limitation, the results of future metallurgical testing; the ability of
the Company to successfully scale and commercialize its technology; the
availability of financing and strategic partners; regulatory and
permitting requirements; commodity-price volatility; and general
economic and market conditions.
Although the Company believes the assumptions underlying the
forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be
placed on such statements. There can be no assurance that future testing
will validate the anticipated performance of the RZOLV technology, that
the technology will be commercially viable or that the Company will
successfully develop, permit or commercialize any proposed application.
Forward-looking statements apply only as of the date of this news
release. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise such
statements except as required by applicable law.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services
Provider, as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture
Exchange, accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this
release.