Management Team

Charles Boasiako
President & Chairman of the Board

Charles Boasiako is the founder, President, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Optima Global Trading & Mining Co. Ltd. Mr. Boasiako has built several enterprises that have achieved outstanding performances, and following his successful investment advisory career in Europe and Asia. Early in his career, Mr. Boasiako progressed swiftly through increasingly senior executive roles. His leadership and strategic experience includes 25 years as Senior Vice President Mr. Boasiako, in 1988, embarked on developing Optima Global into a world-class gold and mineral producing enterprise. Currently focuses on Mining related industries. He has in the past negotiated dozens of merger, acquisition, divestiture, venture investment, and corporate finance transactions and currently manages a Joint Venture portfolio at Optima Global Mining & Trading Co. Ltd.

Together with his management team, Mr. Boasiako has developed Optima Global into a most successful gold related company. His business strengths are evident in Optima Global’s sound financial and risk management, entrepreneurial character and solid balance sheet.

Mr. Boasiako is a graduate in Finance.

 

Ken Erickson
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

Kenneth Erickson was appointed Chief Financial Officer of  Optima Global Mining and Trading in June 2008. Mr. Erickson is an experienced executive with 15 years experience in Africa and a wealth of expertise in finance and economic development.

Mr Erickson brings a wealth of experience in multi-national companies listed on various world markets, and in the required regulatory requirements posed to such companies.

He has been involved in the international gold mining sector for a number of years.

He comes with additional expertise in the Global mineral Compliance, overseeing the security and enterprise-wide risk management functions at Optima Global.

Mr. Erickson has a degree in Economics from Nebraska and his Master’s Degree in International Finance from The American Graduate School for International Management in Arizona.

 

Patrick Williams
Senior Vice President & Chief Operating Officer

Patrick Williams assumed the position of Chief Operating officer in January, 2007. He joined Optima Global as Senior Vice President, Operations.

Mr. Williams brings 25 years of international mining experience to the Optima Global management team. Prior to Optima Global, Mr. Williams worked for Anglo American Platinum plc in South Africa, where he was responsible for both underground and surface operations for one of the world’s largest platinum operations. Previously, he worked for major mining companies at operations in Ghana, Oman, Canada and Namibia.

Mr. Williams received a B.Sc. (Engineering) from Albany University, New York.

 

Patrick Oware
Senior vice President Corporate & Legal Affairs

Patrick Oware assumed the responsibilities of Executive Vice President, Corporate Affairs in December 2007. He has overall responsibility for the Corporate Affairs, Legal and Communications functions. Having extensive international experience with project approvals, development agreements and government relations. Prior to Optima Global, he was a Managing Director at Altara Securities Inc. He also served as the Vice General Counsel and a Director of EuroZinc Mining Corporation, a Vice President of Sutton Resources Ltd. and a Vice President of Rescan Consultants Inc.

Patrick Oware holds a B.Sc. (Hon.) degree from the University of Manitoba and M.Sc. and LL.B. degrees from the University of British Columbia.

 

Brian Jordan
Senior Vice President, Metals and Marketing

Brian Jordan was appointed Senior Vice President, Metals and Marketing July 2007. He has over 16 years of experience in the mining and minerals. Mr. Jordan, a Marketing Advisor, has considerable technical experience, having been the group technical director of Anglo American plc until 2004.

He started his Marketing career at St Helena Gold Mine in the Free State, and then General Manager at Oryx Gold Mine. He was the Director of Metals and Marketing of Kloof Free State Mines. Subsequently, he spent a further three years as the Vice President of Technical Services. Mr. Jordan’s immediate focus is overseeing Optima Global’s transition from a Minerals capital development project to a fully operational producing mine.

He holds a B.S. degree in Mining and Marketing from the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology. MBA. Operations Management Program at the University of Western Ontario School of Business Administration.

 

George Burton
Director, Engineering Operations

Mr. Burton joined Optima Global in March 2008. Mr Burton has more than 15 years of experience in the mining industry. He moved to Ghana in 2008 when he was appointed Director of Operations and before that he was the Operations Manager, East and West Africa Region for ZenGold where he spent the majority of his career. He progressed through the ranks, starting as an engineering trainee at Vaal Reefs in 1989, later spending time in various managerial positions at numerous gold mining operations. He brings years of experience in the development of companies, operations and projects in the mining, mineral processing, and construction and equipment industries on the African continent, South America and in Europe.

His mining experience includes being a Site Engineer, Production Superintendent, Project Manager and Mine Manager. He has experience in shaft sinking, development and underground operations

Mr. Burton holds BSc. In Mechanical Engineering.

 

Samuel Sackey
Director, Chief Information Officer & Corporate Communications

Mr. Sackey joined Optima Global in May 2008 as Chief Information Officer. Under his leadership, the information technology department has played an integral role in several significant company initiatives. As CIO, Samuel led the IT department’s effort to upgrade and modernize the Optima Global technology infrastructure, which included a new state of the art Data Centre. He has also led the department in creating and deploying buying and forecasting systems processes as well as the implementation of the Optima Global’s enterprise data warehouse.

Previously, Mr. Sackey had served in CIO and VP roles on Wall Street with numerous brokerage firms including National Securities Corp, R.W Pressprich, Chapdelaine and Quad Capital. In both his operating and consulting roles, he has broad experience transforming the information and communication capabilities of the companies for which he has worked.

He holds Two B.S. degree in Information technology and Information Systems Management from Albany University and Canterbury University.

 

Jean Ashley Asante
Director, Resource Management

Appointed a director of Optima Global on February 2009.

Jean Ashley Asante has more than 10 years experience in the financial services and resource Management.

She spent 5 years at Ghana Resource Administration where her main focus was on mining clients. She took over in 2006 as the lead partner on the global minerals audit. Other mining and financial clients during her career include MarinAqua, Northam, Aquarius, and certain Anglo Platinum operations. Since joining the company, she has played a major role in due diligence related to Evaluation of properties for Optima Global, including the acquisition and integration of projects. She has led the creation of the Optima Global Development System, a comprehensive set of documented standards, tools, and templates to Help Optima project teams deliver projects effectively and consistently. This knowledge management system allows Optima Global to accumulate expertise, best practices and standard measurements that can be systematically applied to Optima Global’s projects globally.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from the University of Maryland.

 

Sabrina Woods
Director, Capital Projects

Sabrina Wood was appointed Director of Capital Projects in January 2008. She Heads a specialized team of project managers and technical staff focused on managing projects and building new mines. Since joining Optima Global in 2008 she took oversight for the construction of the company's latest generation of mines. She also played a major role in due diligence related to Evaluation of properties for Optima Global, including the acquisition and integration of the Akoroso Prospects.

She has more than 10 years of experience in mining and metallurgy, including 5 years at the executive level of project management. She has experience with more than 10 mine development projects in 5 countries, including the U.S., Australia, South America and Africa. She has worked for major mining companies such as Rand Mines, and Gold Fields’ St Helena Gold Mine in the Free State.

She holds a B.S. in Mineral Processing and from Texas A&M University. MBA . Business management from Manitoba University.

 

Aisher Bosie
Vice President, Safety & Leadership

Aisher Bosie was appointed Vice President Safety and Leadership in July 2007. In this role, she is responsible for establishing systems to improve Optima Global's safety performance, as well as processes to support global talent management, leadership development, and succession planning.

Before joining Optima Global, she was Loss Management Executive at Syncrude Canada Ltd., where She achieved one of the best records for industrial health, safety and environmental performance among Canadian industrial firms. Aisher Bosie is a frequent guest speaker at mining and industry conferences on the topics of safety and leadership. She was awarded the prestigious Leadership Award from the International Society of Mine Safety Professionals in 2009.

She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Alberta. And an MBA. Operations Management Program at the University of Western Ontario School of Business Administration.