Liontown announces key executive leadership changes.

Jon Latto, Chief Financial Officer, and Adam Smits, Chief Operating Officer, have advised of their decisions to step down from their roles, and we are pleased to advise the appointment of Mr Ryan Hair as Chief Operating Officer, commencing 11 August 2025.

Chief Financial Officer

Jon joined Liontown in 2022 and has served as CFO through a period of intense capital investment, market fluctuation, and successful project delivery. He has played a key role in securing critical funding and navigating the Company through its early financial milestones, ensuring a strong platform for long-term value creation.

Jon will remain in the role until 14 July 2025. The Company’s Head of Finance, Graeme Pettit, has been appointed Interim Chief Financial Officer from this date.

Graeme has been with Liontown since 2022 as one of the senior leaders within the business. Graeme has more than 10 years of experience in finance leadership roles in the mining industry, and holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Curtin University, and is a Chartered Accountant. His deep knowledge of the business and strong relationships across the organisation will ensure continuity and stability during the transition.

Liontown will commence a formal search process to identify and appoint a new Chief Financial Officer. Further updates will be provided as appropriate.

Chief Operating Officer

Adam has been with Liontown since its earliest stages, playing a pivotal role in the design, construction, and ramp-up of the Kathleen Valley Lithium Operation. He brought an uncompromising commitment to quality and safety, and his legacy is embedded in the very foundations of the plant and the Company’s operational culture.

Ryan Hair is currently Chief Executive Officer of Covalent Lithium and has led the Mount Holland mine and overseen the commissioning of a major 50,000 tonne per annum lithium hydroxide refinery in Kwinana, Western Australia.

Ryan brings over 30 years of experience across mining and manufacturing, with deep expertise in engineering, operations, project delivery and commercial leadership. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical) from UWA, a Master of Applied Finance and Investment from FINSIA, is a CFA® charter holder and has completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School.

The transition from Adam to Ryan will commence when Ryan starts in August, with Adam remaining at Liontown until the end of August.
 
Commenting on his appointment, Ryan Hair said:

“I am excited to join Liontown and contribute to the future direction of the Company. I strongly believe in a sustainable future supported by lithium mining in Western Australia, and I look forward to the opportunity to lead the Kathleen Valley operations, ensuring that the world-class, long-life asset developed by the Liontown team continues to deliver safely, efficiently and reliably.”

Liontown’s Managing Director and CEO, Tony Ottaviano, said:

“On behalf of the Board and Liontown employees, I want to sincerely thank both Adam and Jon for their outstanding contributions to Liontown.

From the early studies with a handful of employees, Adam has worked tirelessly to ensure that Kathleen Valley was developed in a way that respected the quality of the resource. To have taken the asset from identification to operations in just over six years and then a successful ramp up is a fabulous achievement which few have delivered.

From a personal standpoint, I will miss Adam who I consider one of the best engineers I have had the pleasure to work with.They don’t make them like you anymore, Adam. An Engineer’s engineer! You have left an indelible mark on the fabric of Liontown and we wish you all the best in your retirement.

Jon has been instrumental in securing critical funding and developing the financial frameworks that supported our transition from developer to producer. He successfully navigated the Company through its early financial milestones, establishing a strong foundation for long-term value creation. I am very grateful for the experience, rigour and discipline Jon has brought to the role and the finance function at Liontown. We wish Jon all the best in his future endeavours.

As we look to the future, we are very pleased to welcome Ryan as Chief Operating Officer and Graeme as Acting Chief Financial Officer. Ryan brings deep and relevant operational and commercial experience to our operations, but also to our leadership team at a time where we are transitioning the Company from ramp-up to operations, and ultimately to growth.

Graeme’s long-standing involvement in the business ensures strong continuity in our financial leadership. We look forward to their contributions in this chapter of Liontown’s growth”.