{"id":141733,"title":"Wildcat Gold appoints James Knowles as senior independent director","publisher":"Share Talk","author":"sharetalk","published":"2026-10-12T09:07:06+00:00","modified":"2026-10-12T09:07:06+00:00","canonical_url":"https://www.share-talk.com/wildcat-gold-appoints-james-knowles-as-senior-independent-director/","markdown_url":"https://www.share-talk.com/wildcat-gold-appoints-james-knowles-as-senior-independent-director.md","json_url":"https://www.share-talk.com/wildcat-gold-appoints-james-knowles-as-senior-independent-director.json","category":"Mining","categories":["Mining"],"tags":["appraisal","development","Exploration","Gabriel Simonian","gas","Mandhir Singh","Namibia","oil","Petroleum","President João Lourenco","production","Professor Olinga Taeed","Share Talk","Sudan","Sudanese","upstream","WCAT","Wildcat Petroleum"],"featured_image":"https://i0.wp.com/www.share-talk.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/c6d8c639-8ef2-40f9-91bb-9cb48876d0cf.png?fit=1727%2C911&quality=80&ssl=1","format":"news","language":"en-GB","content":"**Wildcat Gold Plc (LON: WCAT)** has appointed **James Knowles as Senior Independent Non-Executive Director with immediate effect**.\n\nKnowles is co-founder and Executive Chairman of **First Class Metals plc (LON: FCM)**, the Main Market-listed gold and critical-metals explorer.\n\nHe played a central role in establishing First Class Metals, securing funding and completing its **London Stock Exchange admission in July 2022**, and has served as executive chairman for five years.\n\nThe appointment gives Wildcat access to experience spanning both **listed natural-resources companies and corporate finance**.\n\nKnowles previously spent **26 years at Barclays Bank**, where his work included debt financing for real-estate projects.\n\nHe was also a board director of Lancashire Community Finance Trust between 2008 and 2012, representing Barclays, and has held directorships at **Orogenic Gold Exploration Investments** and **Anglo Guinea Gold**.\n\nWildcat chief executive **Mandhir Singh** said Knowles’ experience would contribute to the company’s future growth and development.\n\nAs Senior Independent Director, Knowles will also strengthen the company’s independent board representation as Wildcat advances its strategy.\n\nThe company confirmed there are **no additional matters requiring disclosure under UK Listing Rule 6.4.8R**, which covers areas including previous directorships, insolvencies, criminal convictions and regulatory sanctions.\n\nFor investors, the appointment adds a director with practical experience of **building, financing and bringing an exploration business to the London market**.\n\nThe significance will ultimately depend on how that experience translates into Wildcat’s own **funding strategy, corporate development and advancement of its exploration portfolio**."}