Darcy Marud

Darcy Marud is the President, CEO, and Director of Western Exploration Inc. (TSX-V: WEX; OTCQX: WEXPF), a Nevada-focused precious metals exploration company with over 25 years of operating history. Under Marud's leadership, Western Exploration is advancing its principal asset — the 100%-owned Aura gold-silver project — with the ambitious goal of becoming a premier precious metals development company in North America. The company has garnered significant institutional backing, including strategic support from Agnico Eagle, one of the world's leading gold producers.

Prior to joining Western Exploration, Marud built an impressive career in the mining industry, most notably serving as Senior Vice President of Exploration at Yamana Gold and Executive Vice President of Enterprise Strategy. His tenure at Yamana, a major mid-tier gold producer before its acquisition by Pan American Silver and Agnico Eagle in 2023, provided him with deep expertise in both the technical and strategic dimensions of gold exploration and mine development. This background gives Marud a rare combination of geological acumen and corporate strategy experience that he now applies to advancing Western Exploration's Nevada assets.

Western Exploration's key projects include Gravel Creek, a high-grade underground target that has generated considerable investor excitement with new high-grade drill results, and Doby George, a near-surface oxide project. Both projects are located in Nevada, one of the world's most prolific and mining-friendly gold jurisdictions. Marud has been a frequent presenter at major resource investment conferences, including the Vancouver Resource Investment Conference (VRIC) and the Metals Investor Forum, where he has engaged with prominent mining analysts and newsletter writers such as Brien Lundin of Gold Newsletter and Jeff Clark of The Gold Advisor.

For mining stock investors, Marud represents the type of experienced exploration executive worth following — one who combines major-company pedigree with the entrepreneurial drive of a junior explorer. His ability to articulate a clear development pathway for Western Exploration's assets, coupled with the backing of a major gold producer like Agnico Eagle, makes his company and his commentary relevant to investors tracking Nevada gold plays and emerging precious metals developers.