Endeavour Mining Taps Shell Veteran for Board to Boost Finance, ESG

LONDON, UK – January 13, 2026 – Endeavour Mining plc (LSE:EDV, TSX:EDV), West Africa's largest gold producer, today announced a significant enhancement to its board with the appointment of Alison Henwood as an Independent Non-Executive Director. The move, effective immediately, brings a seasoned finance and sustainability expert from the global energy sector into the mining giant's leadership as it navigates an increasingly complex industry landscape.

The appointment is part of a planned board transition, with Livia Mahler set to retire as an Independent Non-Executive Director at the company's Annual General Meeting in May after a nine-year tenure. The company confirmed it does not expect other board changes at the upcoming AGM.

Srinivasan Venkatakrishnan, Chair of the Board, commented on the transition, stating, "We thank Livia for her exceptional contribution to Endeavour during her long tenure on the Board and particularly in her role as the Chair of the Remuneration Committee; she will be truly missed. Whilst wishing Livia the best in her future, we are delighted that Alison has accepted our invitation to join Endeavour and we warmly welcome her to the Board. We look forward to benefitting from her broad extractive industry and financial experience, and the contribution she will make to our Board.”

A Strategic Move for Financial and Risk Oversight

Alison Henwood’s extensive resume points to a strategic decision by Endeavour to deepen its expertise in financial oversight, risk management, and global operations. Her most prominent role was a nearly 15-year career at Shell Group, culminating in her position as Executive Vice President Finance for Shell Trading & Supply from 2016 to 2022.

In this capacity, she was responsible for the financial stewardship of a vast, multi-billion dollar global business. This division trades in natural gas, power, crude oil, and environmental products, while also managing one of the world's largest fleets of oil and LNG tankers. Her leadership extended to a team of approximately 7,000 employees across 30 countries, providing her with profound insight into managing financial complexity and operational risk on a global scale—experience that is directly transferable to Endeavour's extensive operations across Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, and Burkina Faso.

Henwood's credentials in governance and internal controls are further solidified by her current and past board roles. She presently serves as the Audit Committee Chair for Umicore SA, a Belgian materials technology company deeply involved in the energy transition. She previously held a non-executive role at the UK Hydrographic Office, where she also chaired the audit committee, and was a member of the audit committee at Spectris Plc, a FTSE 250 precision engineering firm. This consistent focus on audit and risk functions underscores a career dedicated to maintaining financial discipline and robust governance frameworks, critical assets for a publicly listed company in the capital-intensive mining sector.

Bolstering ESG Credentials in a Demanding Sector

Beyond her financial acumen, Henwood's appointment brings a powerful focus on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) matters at a time when the mining industry faces intense scrutiny from investors, regulators, and communities. Her experience is not theoretical; it is rooted in practical leadership roles at companies navigating the forefront of industrial change.

At Spectris Plc, she served as the Lead Non-Executive Director for Sustainability, a position that tasked her with guiding the company's ESG strategy. Furthermore, her board positions at both Spectris and Umicore place her at the heart of businesses heavily impacted by the global energy transition and strategically committed to sustainability. This background is particularly pertinent for Endeavour Mining, a member of the World Gold Council committed to responsible mining principles.

Endeavour has already established a strong ESG framework, with board-level oversight supported by a dedicated ESG Committee and alignment with global standards like the UN Global Compact. Henwood's direct experience in shaping sustainability strategy and her familiarity with the challenges of decarbonization—gleaned from her time at Shell during its own strategic shift towards lower-carbon energy—provides the board with an invaluable, forward-looking perspective. This expertise will be crucial as Endeavour continues to manage its environmental footprint and deliver sustainable value in West Africa.

The Value of Cross-Industry Perspective

The decision to bring in a leader from the energy sector rather than promoting from within the mining industry highlights a growing trend of seeking cross-industry expertise to drive innovation and strategic agility. The parallels between the global energy and mining sectors are significant: both are capital-intensive, exposed to commodity price volatility, operate in geopolitically sensitive regions, and face mounting pressure to improve their ESG performance.

Henwood's background, which includes a PhD from Cambridge University in natural sciences and professional finance qualifications (ACT, CIMA), allows her to bridge the technical and financial worlds. Her experience managing complex global supply chains and trading operations at Shell offers a unique lens through which to view Endeavour’s own logistics and market interactions. This infusion of outside perspective can challenge established norms and introduce new approaches to risk management, financial strategy, and operational efficiency.

Ensuring Seamless Governance and Board Succession

The transition is a model of proactive board succession planning. By announcing Henwood's appointment months ahead of Livia Mahler's planned retirement, Endeavour ensures a seamless handover of responsibilities and maintains continuity in its governance structure. This orderly refreshment of the board provides stability and sends a strong signal to shareholders that the company is deliberate in its leadership composition.

Mahler's departure after nine years marks the end of a significant era of service, during which Endeavour grew into a senior gold producer. The appointment of a successor with Henwood’s caliber demonstrates a commitment to not just filling a vacancy, but actively enhancing the board's collective skill set. This move also maintains Endeavour's strong position on board diversity; as of early 2024, the company was compliant with FCA targets, with 44% female directors.

This strategic board enhancement comes as Endeavour reports robust operational and financial health. The company has solidified its position as a low-cost producer, generating record free cash flow and delivering significant shareholder returns through dividends and buybacks. With a strong balance sheet, reduced debt, and promising development projects like the Assafou project on the horizon, the addition of Alison Henwood to the board positions Endeavour Mining to build on its success from a position of financial strength and governance excellence.