Australian gold producer Perseus Mining has appointed Wade Bickley as chief operating officer, strengthening its leadership team as the company accelerates expansion projects across Africa.
Bickley will officially assume the role on June 1, bringing extensive operational experience from mining projects across the continent. He joins Perseus from Appian Capital Advisory’s base metals division, where he also served as chief operating officer.
Perseus said Bickley previously managed operations at AngloGold Ashanti’s Obuasi gold mine in Ghana and held senior project roles with Cupric Canyon Capital in Botswana and Valterra Platinum in South Africa.
“We are delighted to welcome Wade to Perseus, further strengthening our leadership team,” Chief Executive Craig Jones said in a statement.
Jones said Bickley would help lead the company through a key growth phase as it ramps up underground mining at the Yaouré gold mine in Côte d’Ivoire and advances the Nyanzaga project in Tanzania.
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Perseus produced 431,684 ounces of gold in 2025 and is targeting annual production of between 515,000 and 535,000 ounces from 2026 through 2030.
The company is currently advancing underground operations at its Yaouré mine while continuing production at the Sissingué mine, both located in Côte d’Ivoire. In Ghana, Perseus is investing in optimization work at the Edikan mine, while the Nyanzaga project in Tanzania is expected to begin production by 2027.
The expansion strategy comes as gold exports remain a major source of foreign exchange earnings for several African economies, including Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Tanzania.
