D. Bruce McLeod, P.Eng., President, CEO & Director
Bruce McLeod is a Mining Engineer with over 25 years experience in the mining business. Prior to becoming the President & CEO of Mercator, Mr. McLeod served as President & CEO of Creston Moly Corp. He was a founder of Stornoway Diamond Corporation and founder and Executive Chairman of Sherwood Copper Corp., which in 2008 completed a business combination with Capstone Mining Corp. His professional associations include; chair of the TSXV Exchange's Local Advisory Committee, member of the TSXV National Advisory Board, membership in the Canadian Institute of Mining & Metallurgy, the Association for Mineral Exploration British Columbia, and the Association of Professional Engineers of BC. Mr. McLeod also sits a Co-Chair of the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada Securities Committee and is involved with several non-profit groups including sitting as a director of Science World in Vancouver, BC.
Mark W. Distler, CPA, Chief Financial Officer
Mark W. Distler,CPA., Chief Financial Officer, Was appointed the Chief Financial Officer of the Company effective January 15, 2011. Mr. Distler possesses senior-level financial executive experience, including positions with publicly listed mining companies, Frontera Copper Corporation and Freeport-McMoRan (Phelps Dodge Corporation). Mr. Distler holds both a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and has been a Certified Public Accountant since 1989.
Gary Simmerman, BSc, Mining Engineering, FAusIMM, VP Mineral Park
Mr. Simmerman has been with the Company since 2007. From 2004 until April 2007, Mr. Simmerman was employed by Frontera Copper Corp. as VP and Chief Operating Officer and was responsible for the development and operation of the Piedras Verdes Copper Project located in Sonora, Mexico. From 1992 until 2004, Mr. Simmerman was employed by Azco Mining as VP Operations and was responsible for the development of Azco.s Black Canyon Mica Project, located near Phoenix, Arizona, was involved in the bankable feasibility study for the Sanchez copper project located near Safford, Arizona, and was responsible for overseeing Azco.s interest in the Piedras Verdes Property. From 1986 to 1992, Mr. Simmerman was employed by Santa Fe Pacific Gold Corp., first as Senior Mine Engineer and then as Chief Engineer. From 1980 to 1986, and 1974 to 1980, Mr. Simmerman was employed by Noranda and Gulf Mineral Resources respectively in various operating and engineering positions.
Mr. Simmerman holds a Bachelor of Science degree in mining engineering from the University of Arizona.
Michael J. Broch, BSc, Geology, MSc, Economic Geology, FAusIMM, VP Exploration & Valuations
Michael J. Broch has been with the company since 2006 and most recently as VP Exploration. From 1998 until 2006, Mr. Broch was employed as a consultant to the mining industry as President and CEO of Global Ore Finders.
Prior to that, he had progressively senior corporate development and exploration roles at Battle Mountain Gold Company in the USA and Indonesia. His career also includes experience with Amoco Minerals, Cypress Mining, US Borax and Anaconda Copper.
Mr. Broch holds a Bachelor of Science in geology and a Master of Science in economic geology, both from Washington State University. Mr. Broch is a Fellow Member of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and also serves on the advisory board to the College of Sciences at Washington State University.
Marc S. LeBlanc, Corporate Secretary
Marc S. LeBlanc has been the VP Corporate Development since May 2007, the Corporate Secretary since January 2005 and was the Assistant Corporate Secretary upon joining the Company in September 2003. Mr. LeBlanc is currently a member in good standing with the Canadian Society of Corporate Secretaries and the British Columbia Paralegal Association and a member of the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada. Mr. LeBlanc holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Simon Fraser University and an Associates Degree in Legal Studies from Capilano College. Prior to joining Mercator on a full time basis , he provided consulting services to the Company and a number of other public mining companies in the areas of corporate finance and regulatory affairs in the review and preparation of offering materials and continuous disclosure filings pursuant to Canadian and US securities legislation and regulation.
From 2000 to May 2004, he was employed with a number of Vancouver law firms and was responsible for the preparation and review of all continuous disclosure documents for publicly traded companies listed in North America and Europe and ensuring the maintenance of these companies of the requirements of Canadian and US securities legislation and regulations. Mr. LeBlanc was formerly the Assistant Corporate Secretary for Miramar Mining Corporation and Northern Orion Explorations Ltd.
Mr. LeBlanc is and has been a director or officer of a number of public mining and industrial companies.
