AMZ names Sampaio VP, operationsAmazon Mining Holding names Sampaio VP, operations
2010-06-09 04:39 PT - News Release
Mr. Cristiano Veloso reports
AMAZON APPOINTS MAURICIO SAMPAIO AS VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS
Amazon Mining Holding PLC has appointed Mauricio Sampaio as vice-president of operations.
Mr. Sampaio is a seasoned Brazilian executive with pertinent expertise and experience in the areas of fertilizer marketing and sales, operations planning, logistics, and product development. At Amazon, Mr. Sampaio will coordinate efforts to advance the Cerrado Verde project, including the development and marketing of the ThermoPotash product, as well as evaluating other potential potash fertilizers currently under tests.
Cerrado Verde is a source of potash rich rock from which Amazon plans to produce a slow-release, non-chloride, multi-nutrient, fertilizer product. Cerrado Verde, amenable to open pit mining, is located in central Minas Gerais in the heart of Brazil's vast Cerrado agricultural area.
Mr. Sampaio was Bunge Fertilizantes Operations Director from 2004 to 2006 and Marketing Director from 2002 to 2004. Bunge is South America's largest supplier and distributor of fertilizers and the world's largest oilseed processor. Mr. Sampaio served as business director for the company's Bunge Fertilizantes IAP/Ouro Verde divisions, where he was responsible for marketing and operations, growing brand sales by 60%. He was on Fosfertil's commercial committee as Bunge's representative. Fosfertil is Brazil's main raw materials and phosphate supplier. Prior to Bunge he also held the position of Operations Director at Fertiza (Acquired by Mosaic/Cargill) from 1996 to 2000, where he was responsible for planning, logistics, sales and supply. More recently he served as an agribusiness advisor to Accenture; marketing consultant for Tortuga Cia Zootecnica Agraria (Brazil's largest animal feed company) for Latin America; and advisor to CJ Company (South Korea's largest food company). Mr. Sampaio was President of the Brazilian Agribusiness Association from 2006 to 2009.
Mr. Sampaio graduated in Agronomy Engineering and earned his MBA in Agribusiness from USP - Universidade de Sao Paulo. He did his post-graduate studies in Business Administration at Fundacao Getulio Vargas, Sao Paulo.
In regards to his hiring, new Vice President Operations, Mauricio Sampaio, said, "Amazon's Cerrado Verde project represents an exciting opportunity to be part of the development of what I believe could be a breakthrough fertilizer product in Brazil."
Commenting President & CEO, Cristiano Veloso, said, "Mauricio is one of Brazil's most successful and respected agribusiness professionals. We are pleased to have a professional of his calibre that shares our excitement about the prospects of the Cerrado Verde project. His addition will kick start the establishment of Amazon Mining as a Brazilian fertilizer producer."
Amazon has issued 250,000 share purchase options exercisable at $1.40, expiring May 31, 2015 to Mauricio Sampaio, pending TSX regulatory approval.