Luca Mining Corp. announced the appointment of Nick Shakesby as Chief Operating Officer, effective April 1, 2026. Luca has also strengthened its technical team to advance and execute on optimization and growth initiatives, including the Campo Morado Expansion.
The CME is a mill optimization and expansion study and mine plan update for the Campo Morado mine, targeting improved recovery rates of all metals, most notably an expected significant increase in gold and silver recoveries at the operation (see Company press release dated February 18, 2026). The CME, life of mine plan, and Mineral Reserve estimate will be delivered in a Technical Report to be prepared in accordance with NI 43-101, expected to be released in the second half of 2026. Luca's new technical team has been assembled to provide deep management experience and expertise in overseeing and executing on the asset optimization and transformational growth opportunities ahead for the Company.
Nick Shakesby, Luca's new COO, is a senior mining executive with more than 30 years of operational and project leadership experience across underground mining operations globally, with a strong focus on Mexico and Latin America. Mr. Shakesby joins Luca from COMINVI S.A., Mexico's largest underground mining contractor, where he has served as Chief Executive Officer since 2023. Previously, Mr. Shakesby served as Vice President, Operations and Country Manager, Mexico at Endeavour Silver Corp., where he was responsible for four operating underground mines.
He resides in Mexico and is fluent in Spanish and English. Ramn Mendoza, currently Chief Operating Officer and Chief Technical Officer ("CTO"), will transition to a dedicated CTO role focused on leading Luca's growth initiatives, including the recently announced CME. The CME is expected to consist of a two-phase expansion at the Campo Morado processing facility and will include an updated mine plan for the operation.
Mr. Mendoza will oversee this exciting brownfields growth opportunity, ensuring the project's execution and delivery. Nick Shakesby, Chief Operating Officer:Mr. Shakesby is a senior mining executive with more than 30 years of operational and project leadership experience across underground mining operations globally, with a strong focus on Mexico and Latin America.He joins Luca from COMINVI S.A., Mexico's largest underground mining contractor, where he has served as Chief Executive Officer since 2023. During his tenure, Mr. Shakesby led an operational and organizational transformation focused on safety performance, operational efficiency, and profitability, positioning the company for sustained growth across multiple operating projects.Previously, Mr. Shakesby served as Vice President, Operations and Country Manager, Mexico at Endeavour Silver Corp., where he was responsible for four operating underground mines.
In that role, he implemented operational improvement and safety culture initiatives while increasing production performance and cost discipline.Mr. Shakesby resides in Mexico and is fluent in Spanish and English. Ramn Mendoza, Chief Technical OfficerMr. Mendoza brings over 35 years of senior experience in the mining industry, with expertise in mine development and process improvements, and a highly successful track record of managing underground and open-pit operations. He specializes in advanced optimization techniques, integrating mine designs, planning, cost modeling tools, and geo-sciences into the mine and processing plans.Prior to joining Luca, he worked as a mining consultant and spent many years at First Majestic Silver Corp.
where he was a member of the senior leadership team focused on strategic management and project implementation. In his prior roles, Mr. Mendoza provided technical oversight of the mineral resource and reserve estimation process, led technical due diligence for multiple mine acquisitions, directed exploration, mine design, and projects teams to successfully explore, design, and develop numerous growth projects and new mine developments, developed teams to lead change and innovation for the continuous improvement of operations, ensuring the integration of optimized business plans, and managed the operation of a portfolio of assets in Mexico with more than 4,000 direct employees.Mr. Mendoza holds an MSc in Mining Engineering from Colorado School of Mines and is fluent in both Spanish and English.Dr. Jose Hernandez, Vice President, Metallurgy and Process EngineeringDr. Hernandez is a mineral processing executive with more than 20 years of international experience delivering operational improvements and technical innovation across global mining operations.Most recently, he served as Manager, Project Metallurgy at Teck Resources, where he led processing activities through all project study phases, from conceptual engineering through detailed design, while providing company-wide technical leadership in mineral processing innovation.Previously, Dr. Hernandez held senior technical leadership roles including Head of Processing for Latin America and Australia at Anglo American and Vice President of Innovation, Processing and Metallurgy at First Majestic Silver, where he led plant optimization and technology deployment initiatives that improved throughput, recoveries, and operating efficiency across multiple operations.Earlier in his career, he contributed to the Highland Valley Copper Mill Optimization Project at Teck Resources, supporting the design and implementation of a major flotation plant expansion and recovery improvement programs.Dr. Hernandez holds a PhD in Metallurgical Engineering from McGill University and is fluent in Spanish and English.
