VIENNA, Austria – February 11, 2026 – Ekometall Inc. (“Ekometall” or the “Company”) today announced the appointment of Jim Paterson and Luke Kissam to its Board of Directors, effective immediately. The appointments expand Ekometall’s Board to include proven capital markets and operational expertise from across the global resources sector.
The appointments come as European policymakers increasingly prioritize domestic critical mineral supply chains and as Ekometall advances its regional exploration program across Austria’s historic mining districts.
“Jim and Luke bring deep expertise in capital markets, international business, and corporate governance that will be incredibly valuable as we advance exploration in Austria and evaluate commercial opportunities across our portfolio. We’re honored to welcome them to the Board,” said Ryan Finlay, CEO of Ekometall.
“Austria represents a compelling opportunity in the critical minerals space, and Ekometall’s first-mover advantage, experienced Austrian team members, and technical capabilities make it uniquely positioned to unlock that potential,” said Jim Paterson. “I look forward to working with the team as they advance and commercialize this amazing portfolio of assets.”
“The energy transition requires secure, responsible supply chains for critical minerals,” said Luke Kissam. “Ekometall’s approach—combining modern exploration technology with deep local expertise in a favorable European jurisdiction—positions the Company to play an important role in meeting that demand.”
About Jim Paterson
Jim is a principal of Discovery Group and has nearly three decades of executive leadership experience in the mining industry, including capital raises, acquisitions, joint-ventures, spin-outs, RTOs, and IPOs. He has been a director/officer of companies that have raised $300+M in equity, delivered exploration discoveries at multiple projects globally, and participated in over $1B in M&A transactions in the past decade.
Beyond Ekometall, Jim is a director of companies with active exploration projects in Brazil, France, the United States, Canada, and Saudi Arabia.
About Luke Kissam
Luke is a recognized leader and investor in the resources space with over 20 years of experience in the operational and financial aspects of major global businesses. He previously served as Chairman and CEO of Albemarle Corporation (NYSE: ALB), a global company with leading positions in lithium and over a $22 billion market capitalization. In this role, he spearheaded Albemarle’s $6.2 billion acquisition of Rockwood Holdings, Inc. in 2014, and helped transform Albemarle into a global leader in the fast-growth lithium business, which is a critical enabler for electric reliability, energy storage and the emerging clean energy economy.
He currently serves on the Board of Directors of DuPont de Nemours Inc., OGE Energy Corp, and Advance Drainage Systems. Luke holds a Juris Doctor (J.D.) from the University of South Carolina School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts from the Citadel.
About Ekometall
Ekometall is an emerging critical minerals exploration company focused on unlocking Austria’s significant precious and base metal potential across the country’s historic mining districts. The company has assembled a specialized, Austria-based technical team that applies AI-assisted analysis to digitize and interpret over five centuries of previously inaccessible geological records, transforming archival data into actionable exploration targets. With a dominant first-mover land position approaching 10,000 km² and a demonstrated ability to efficiently permit and execute drilling programs, Ekometall offers global mining partners a compelling entry point into a favorable European jurisdiction. The company’s combination of local expertise, modern exploration methods, and extensive mineral tenure establishes Ekometall as the essential gateway for accessing the critical raw materials vital to Europe’s energy transition and industrial future.
For more information, visit https://emexploration.com.
Contact
For more information on Ekometall’s projects or for investor relations inquiries, please contact: Ryan Finlay
Managing Director & CEO
r.finlay@emexploration.at
+1 703.229.2312
