November 25, 2010 - Vancouver, British Columbia - NovaGold Resources Inc. (NYSE-AMEX, TSX: NG) today announced the appointment of Gil Leathley to
the position of Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.
Mr. Leathley has been Senior
Advisor to the President of NovaGold since January
2010. In that capacity he has been instrumental in advancing the Company's two
core projects, Donlin Creek in Alaska and Galore
Creek in British Columbia. As Senior Vice President and Chief Operating
Officer, Mr. Leathley will be responsible for all
technical and operating aspects of NovaGold's
portfolio of projects. He will work with NovaGold's
partners, Barrick Gold U.S. Inc. and Teck Resources Limited, to develop these major projects in
a technically and environmentally sound and cost effective manner as the
Company works to achieving its primary goal of becoming a low-cost
million-ounce-a-year gold producer.
"Mr. Leathley brings a
wealth of experience and insight to NovaGold's senior
team,��� said Rick Van Nieuwenhuyse, President & CEO
of NovaGold. "He has an unparalleled record of
building and operating mines around the world, including Golden Giant in
Ontario, Eskay Creek in British Columbia, Ruby Hill
in Nevada and the Super Pit in Kalgoorlie, Australia.His pragmatic advice and expertise will be
invaluable in developing what we believe to be two of the most significant
mining projects of this century.���
With more than 50 years of mining experience, Mr. Leathley has been involved in all aspects of mine
construction and operations as well as evaluation of exploration properties and
potential acquisitions. Mr.Leathley has also assisted
with financial oversight and offers expertise on engagement with investors,
analysts and local communities. Originally from Scotland, Mr. Leathley trained as a Mine Surveyor and Industrial Engineer
with the Scottish National Coal Board, working his way through coal and bauxite
mines and eventually to gold and copper mining in 1975. Mr. Leathley
retired in 2000 as Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Homestake Mining, and has since worked as a consultant for
a diverse group of Canadian mining companies.
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About NovaGold
NovaGold is a precious metals company engaged in the exploration and development
of mineral properties in Alaska, U.S.A. and British Columbia, Canada. The
Company is focused on advancing its two core properties, Donlin
Creek and Galore Creek, with the objective of becoming a low-cost
million-ounce-a-year gold producer, and offers superior leverage to gold with
one of the largest reserve/resource bases of any junior or mid-tier gold
company. NovaGold has a strong track record of
expanding deposits through exploration success and forging collaborative
partnerships, both with local communities and with major mining companies. The Donlin Creek project in Alaska, one of the world's largest
undeveloped gold deposits, is held by a limited liability company owned equally
by NovaGold and Barrick
Gold U.S. Inc. The Galore Creek project in British Columbia, a large
copper-gold-silver deposit, is held by a partnership owned equally by NovaGold and Teck Resources
Limited. NovaGold also owns a 100% interest in the
high-grade Ambler copper-zinc-gold-silver deposit in northern Alaska and has
other earlier-stage exploration properties. NovaGold
trades on the TSX and NYSE-AMEX under the symbol NG. More information is
available at www.novagold.net or by emailing info@novagold.net.
NovaGold Contact
Rhylin Bailie
Director, Communications & Investor
Relations
604-669-6227
or 1-866-669-6227