Texas Precious Metals Splits Focus: An Ops Chief for Growth, a CEO for Capital

SHINER, TX – June 16, 2026 – In a strategic move signaling a new phase of ambitious growth, Texas Precious Metals (TPM) has announced a significant restructuring of its executive leadership. The appointment of industrial and manufacturing veteran John Cathey as President is designed to fortify the company’s massive operational core, while freeing co-founder and CEO Tarek Saab to spearhead a focused push into global capital markets. This dual-pronged strategy aims to simultaneously optimize its powerhouse e-commerce and depository businesses and elevate the company from a leading dealer to a more integrated player in the international financial ecosystem.

Since its founding in 2011, the Shiner-based company has carved out a dominant position in the industry, processing over $4 billion in client transactions. The leadership shuffle is not a simple succession but a calculated division of labor. Cathey will take the reins of the company’s complex day-to-day operations—its e-commerce platform, wholesale division, and world-class depository—while Saab concentrates on long-term strategic development.

"John Cathey's appointment as President marks a defining moment for us," said Tarek Saab. "With John shepherding the growth of our e-commerce, wholesale, and depository businesses, I will be focusing my attention on leading Texas Precious Metals' future into the capital markets."

This deliberate bifurcation of roles suggests a company confident in its current market position but hungry for new frontiers, leveraging technology and operational excellence to redefine its place in a centuries-old industry.

The Operational Cornerstone: An Industrial Veteran Takes the Helm

John Cathey is not a traditional precious metals executive. His nearly three decades of leadership experience were forged in the demanding worlds of manufacturing, construction, energy, and industrial services. This background in tangible, process-driven industries is precisely what makes his appointment a masterstroke for a company managing the complex logistics of high-value physical assets at a global scale.

TPM's operational scope is immense. Having shipped over 150,000 orders and more than 75 million ounces of silver, its logistical backbone is the engine of its success. The company’s philosophy—"if we don't have it, we don't sell it"—is a customer-centric promise built on sophisticated, real-time inventory management and secure logistics technology. Cathey's mandate will be to reinforce and scale this intricate machine. His expertise in improving operational performance and executing complex initiatives will be critical as TPM continues to grow its core business, which reported nearly $170 million in revenue in 2021.

He will also oversee the Texas Precious Metals Depository, the largest of its kind in Texas, which held assets valued at $360 million as of early 2023. This facility is more than a vault; it's a tech-enabled platform serving a diverse clientele from individual investors to large institutional clients. Cathey’s experience in managing large-scale, high-value operations is expected to bring a new level of efficiency and strategic growth to this key division.

"Texas Precious Metals has built an exceptional reputation by consistently putting customers first and earning their trust one relationship at a time," Cathey stated. "I look forward to working alongside our team to strengthen those customer relationships, expand our capabilities, and continue delivering the experience and value our customers have come to expect."

Charting New Territory: The Capital Markets Gambit

While Cathey digs in to optimize the present, Tarek Saab is looking to build the future. His shift in focus to "capital markets initiatives" represents a strategic pivot to move TPM up the financial food chain. This is less about selling more gold bars and more about integrating the asset class itself into the broader machinery of global finance.

Saab’s strategy appears to be multifaceted. A key component is the geographic diversification of the company's depository services. With plans for satellite depositories in financial hubs like Switzerland and the Cayman Islands, TPM is building a global network to offer clients jurisdictional diversification for their physical holdings—a crucial service for high-net-worth individuals and institutional investors concerned with geopolitical risk.

Furthermore, this move builds on existing strategic alignments. The 2023 partnership with A-Mark Precious Metals, which saw A-Mark take a 12% ownership stake in TPM, was a clear step toward enhancing e-commerce and minting capabilities through collaboration with a major industry player. Saab's new role will likely involve forging deeper institutional relationships and leveraging these partnerships to create new financial products and services.

For a CEO who co-founded the company in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, viewing precious metals as a vital "insurance policy," this strategic push is a natural evolution. It's an effort to transition TPM from being solely a trusted dealer to becoming an essential partner in sophisticated, global wealth-preservation strategies.

A Market in Motion: Adapting to Global Tides

TPM's strategic realignment is happening against a backdrop of significant turbulence and opportunity in the precious metals market. For 2026 and beyond, geopolitical instability remains a primary driver of demand. Central banks, increasingly wary of the US dollar's long-term outlook, have been on a historic buying spree, accumulating gold at a rate double the previous decade's average. This institutional flight to safety provides a powerful tailwind for companies like TPM.

Gold prices have reflected this sentiment, hitting record quarterly averages. Simultaneously, the silver market is grappling with its sixth consecutive annual supply deficit, driven by robust investment demand and steady industrial use in sectors like photovoltaics and electronics. This tightening supply-demand dynamic makes operational efficiency and secure sourcing—Cathey’s domain—more critical than ever.

In this environment, TPM is positioning itself to capture demand from all angles. By strengthening its retail and depository operations, it solidifies its base with individual investors seeking a safe haven. By pursuing capital markets, it aims to attract the much larger pools of institutional money now flowing into the asset class. This dual focus allows the company to adapt and thrive whether market sentiment is driven by retail panic or institutional strategy.

Beyond Bullion: The Power of Brand and Innovation

Further distinguishing itself in a competitive field that includes giants like APMEX and JM Bullion, TPM has successfully leveraged technology and marketing through its custom-minting division, Texas Mint. This is innovation in a traditional space, transforming a commodity into a branded, collectible product.

The mint's flagship product, the Texas Silver Round, has over 3 million ounces in circulation. More strategically, its high-profile partnerships demonstrate a unique ability to connect with new audiences. By creating licensed bullion for Texas A&M University, the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA), and the UFC, TPM is tapping into passionate communities and expanding its market beyond traditional investors.

This approach, blending precision manufacturing with savvy brand alignment, is another expression of the company's forward-thinking strategy. It demonstrates an understanding that in the modern economy, even an ancient asset like gold can be enhanced through branding, storytelling, and strategic partnerships. As Cathey takes over operations and Saab charts a new course in the financial world, this innovative spirit remains a core component of the company’s DNA, ensuring its relevance for years to come.