Meridian names heir-apparent to CEO

Meridian Gold of Reno last week took a big step toward moving to its next generation of management.

The company hired Edward Dowling, previously an executive with the South African mining company DeBeers, as the designate to succeed Brian Kennedy, Meridian's chief executive officer and president.

Dowling is expected to become president and CEO on Jan. 1. At that time, Kennedy will become chairman of the board, and Christopher Lattanzi Meridian's current chairman will become lead director.

Lattazani said the company began its search for a successor to Kennedy after the unexpected death of Edward Colt, Meridian's executive vice president, last November.

Dowling most recently worked as executive director, mining and exploration, for DeBeers. A native of the United States, he has lived in South Africa since 2003.

His career also includes work as executive vice president in charge of production facilities and research and development at Cleveland-Cliffs, an iron-mining company, and at Cyprus Amax Minerals Co.

Dowling earned a bachelor's degree in mining engineering from Penn State, and also earned master's and doctoral degrees in mineral processing at the school.