Management Team
Since 1993, Chesapeake’s management team has a successful track record working in the Americas. The strength of the Company is the ability of its people to recognize prospective geologic settings, generate quality projects and finance their exploration and development. The team’s strategic vision and initiative rewarded Francisco Gold Corp.’s shareholders with the grassroots discoveries of El Sauzal and Marlin – two multi-million ounce gold deposits which became mines with robust economics.
With the acquisition of Alderley Gold Corp., Chesapeake is focusing on progressing the world class Metates project towards production as a sulphide heap leach operation.
Jean-Paul Tsotsos
Interim CEO
Jean-Paul Tsotsos has over 15 years of experience in mining corporate development, strategy, capital markets, project evaluations, and project development. Mr. Tsotsos was previously a member of the Corporate Development team at Hudbay Minerals, where he played an integral role in the development of the Snow Lake base metal to gold transition strategy in Manitoba, the 100% ownership consolidation of Copper World in Arizona, and the acquisition of Mason Resources in Nevada. Before Hudbay, Mr. Tsotsos worked at BMO Capital Markets in the Metals and Mining Equity Research group and held successively higher roles as a Professional Geologist within exploration and consulting. Mr. Tsotsos holds an MBA specializing in Natural Resources, Energy, and Environment from the University of Alberta, a Masters of Science, and an Honours Bachelor of Science from the University of Toronto. He is a Professional Geoscientist registered with the Association of Professional Geoscientists of Ontario.
P. Randy Reifel
Executive Chairman
Randy Reifel has been a senior executive in the exploration business for 36 years. During this period he has distinguished himself as a successful, strategic entrepreneur within the industry. Prior to establishing Chesapeake, Mr. Reifel was president of two exploration companies focused in Latin America, Carson Gold Corp. and Francisco Gold Corp. Mr. Reifel’s early recognition of the Kilometer 88 gold district in Venezuela led to Carson Gold being acquired in 1993. With Francisco Gold, Mr. Reifel played a primary role in the creation, development and financing of the El Sauzal and Marlin gold discoveries and the sale in 2002 to Glamis Gold Ltd. for $390 million. Mr. Reifel holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree and a Masters of Science in Business Administration. Prior to the Newmont-Goldcorp merger, Mr. Reifel was a director of Goldcorp for 13 years.
Gary A. Parkison
Vice President Development
Gary Parkison is a professional geologist with over 40 years experience in the exploration and development of base and precious metal deposits in the Americas. Mr. Parkison has held senior level positions with Westmont Mining, Cambior Inc. and Constellation Copper as well as various consulting positions before joining Chesapeake as Metates Project Manager in 2008. Mr. Parkison has several mineral discoveries to his credit and has led the evaluation of numerous large scale projects from scoping level through feasibility study. Mr. Parkison holds a Bachelor of Science and a Masters degree in Geology from the University of California and is a fellow of the Society of Economic Geologists as well as a member of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration.
Alberto Galicia
Vice President Exploration
Alberto Galicia is a geologist with 25 years of experience in mineral exploration in Mexico and Central America and also in associated ESG management. In 1996, Mr. Galicia joined the Francisco Gold Corp team and two years later co-discovered the Marlin gold deposit in Guatemala. Mr. Galicia graduated as a Geological Engineer from the “Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala” in 1993, He is a registered Professional Geoscientist (P. Geo. / APEGBC) and is a member of the Society of Economic Geologists.
Navin Sandhu
Interim CFO
Mr. Sandhu has years of accounting, auditing, and advisory experience through servicing a wide variety of clients. Mr. Sandhu is President and founder of Nava Financial Inc., a public practice accounting firm that specializes in providing CFO and Controller services to Canadian publicly listed companies. Prior to Nava Financial Mr. Sandhu was an Audit Manager at a mid-sized accounting firm based in Vancouver, BC which led him to gain extensive knowledge in IFRS and financial reporting. Throughout his audit career, Mr. Sandhu worked with numerous public and going public companies in the junior mining, cannabis, technology and life science space. He holds a B. Acc from BCIT as well the CPA professional designation from CPA BC.
Bernard Poznanski
Corporate Secretary
Bernie Poznanski is one of the founding partners of Koffman Kalef, a firm specializing in business law, and is head of their securities and mining law group. Mr. Poznanski has acted for a wide variety of companies listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange, NASDAQ, the London AIM Market, and the Paris Nouveau Marché. He has particular expertise in dealing with mining and technology companies and advising companies with international projects. Mr. Poznanski has a B.Sc. degree from the University of Guelph, an LLB. degree from the University of Ottawa and an LLM. degree from McGill University.