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Highlights

  • Liontown’s CFO Jon Latto and COO Adam Smits to step down; interim CFO appointed.

  • Ryan Hair, former CEO of Covalent Lithium, to join as COO from August 11.

  • Share price declines 3.47% to 69.5 cents following leadership changes.

Shares of Liontown Resources Ltd (ASX:LTR) fell 3.47% to 69.5 cents on Monday after the lithium developer announced key executive leadership changes, including the resignation of its Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer.

In a statement to the ASX, Liontown advised that CFO Jon Latto and COO Adam Smits have decided to step down from their respective roles. The company confirmed the appointment of Ryan Hair as the incoming Chief Operating Officer, effective August 11, 2025.

Jon Latto, who joined Liontown in 2022, will remain in his role until July 14. He played a key role in guiding the company through a period of capital investment and project execution, including securing essential funding and helping establish Liontown’s financial platform for future growth.

To ensure continuity, the company has appointed Graeme Pettit, current Head of Finance, as Interim CFO. Pettit, who also joined in 2022, brings over a decade of experience in finance leadership within the mining industry and is a Chartered Accountant. Liontown said a formal search is underway to identify a permanent replacement for the CFO role.

On the operational front, long-serving executive Adam Smits will remain with the company until the end of August to facilitate a smooth transition. Smits has been instrumental in the design, construction, and ramp-up of the Kathleen Valley Lithium Operation and has helped shape the company’s safety-first operational culture.

Incoming COO Ryan Hair brings with him over 30 years of experience in mining and manufacturing. He is currently the CEO of Covalent Lithium and has overseen development of the Mount Holland mine and the commissioning of a major 50,000-tonne-per-annum lithium hydroxide refinery in Kwinana, Western Australia. Hair’s qualifications include a Bachelor of Engineering from the University of Western Australia, a Master of Applied Finance and Investment, CFA® charterholder credentials, and executive training from Harvard Business School.

Liontown noted that the transition between Smits and Hair will begin once the new COO assumes his position in August.

The announcement of back-to-back executive changes appeared to weigh on investor sentiment, with the company’s share price reacting negatively in early trade.