NovaGold Resources Inc.: Exhibit 99.1 - Filed by newsfilecorp.com
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TSX, NYSE-AMEX: NG |
Greg Lang and Sharon Dowdall Join the Board of Directors of
NovaGold
April 18, 2012 - Vancouver, British Columbia - NovaGold
Resources Inc. (TSX, NYSE-AMEX: NG) (“NovaGold” or “the Company”) is pleased
to announce the appointment of Mr. Gregory A. Lang and Ms. Sharon Dowdall to
NovaGold’s Board of Directors, effective immediately.
Mr. Lang is NovaGold’s President and Chief Executive Officer.
He has over 30 years of diverse experience in mine operations, project
development, and evaluations. Prior to joining NovaGold earlier in 2012, he
served as President of Barrick Gold of North America, a wholly-owned subsidiary
of Barrick Gold Corporation (“Barrick Gold”), the largest gold producer in the
world. In that capacity, Mr. Lang had executive responsibility for Barrick
Gold’s nine operations in the United States, Canada and the Dominican Republic,
including the Donlin Gold project, equally owned by wholly-owned subsidiaries of
NovaGold and Barrick Gold. Prior to Barrick Gold, Mr. Lang served in senior
executive positions with Homestake Mining Company and International Corona
Corporation, both now part of Barrick Gold. He holds a Bachelor of Science in
Mining Engineering from the University of Missouri-Rolla and is a Graduate of
the Stanford University Executive Program.
In her 30-year career in the mining industry, Ms. Dowdall
served in senior legal capacities for Franco-Nevada Corporation
(“Franco-Nevada”), a major gold-focused royalty company; and Newmont Mining
Corporation, one of the world’s largest gold producers. During her 20-year
tenure as Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary with Franco-Nevada, Ms.
Dowdall was one of the principals who transformed an industry pioneer into one
of the most successful precious metals enterprises in the world. Prior to
joining Franco-Nevada, she practiced law with a major Canadian legal firm
specializing in natural resources. Ms. Dowdall is the recipient of the 2011
Canadian General Counsel Award for Business Achievement. She currently serves on
several Boards of Canadian exploration and development companies. Ms. Dowdall
holds a B.A. (Hons.) from the University of Calgary and an LL.B, from Osgoode
Hall at York University.
"On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to welcome
both Sharon and Greg to the Board of NovaGold,” said Thomas Kaplan, Chairman of
the Board. “Greg is already leading NovaGold toward successful development of
its flagship 50%-owned Donlin Gold project in Alaska. His exceptional track
record of building some of the largest gold mines in the world, on budget and on
time, is particularly important for the Company as it advances Donlin Gold up
the value chain. Sharon’s extensive experience in building significant
shareholder value at Franco-Nevada is also highly fitting for NovaGold, where we
deeply share Franco-Nevada’s well-documented philosophy and practice of wealth
creation.”
About NovaGold
NovaGold is a precious metals company engaged in the
exploration and development of mineral properties primarily in Alaska, U.S. and
British Columbia, Canada. The Company is focused on advancing its 50%-owned
flagship property, Donlin Gold, one of the world’s largest known undeveloped
gold deposits, which offers superior leverage to gold. NovaGold is also
committed to maximizing value of its non-core assets and is currently exploring
opportunities to sell all or part of the Company’s interest in the Galore Creek
copper-gold-silver project in British Columbia, Canada. NovaGold has a strong
track record of forging collaborative partnerships, both with local communities
and with major mining companies.
NovaGold Contact
Mélanie Hennessey
Vice President, Corporate Communications
Ariadna D. Peretz
Analyst, Investor Relations
604-669-6227 or 1-866-669-6227