Lithium Africa Appoints Dr. Thomas Benson as Chief Executive Officer

Executive Summary

• Lithium Africa Corp. announced the appointment of Dr. Thomas Benson as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective July 1, 2026.
• Outgoing CEO and co-founder Tyron Breytenbach will step down from his executive and director roles, transitioning to Capital Markets Advisor to ensure continuity in capital markets and strategic relationships.
• Dr. Benson, who joined the board in April 2026, will receive a grant of 750,000 Restricted Share Units (RSUs) contingent on disinterested shareholder approval at the upcoming AGM.

Key Details

• CEO Appointment: Dr. Thomas Benson appointed as Chief Executive Officer, effective July 1, 2026.
• Outgoing Leadership: Tyron Breytenbach, P.Geo, co-founder and current CEO, steps down as CEO and director effective July 1, 2026.
• New Role for Outgoing CEO: Mr. Breytenbach transitions to Capital Markets Advisor, remaining actively engaged to support capital markets activity, strategic relationships, and growth priorities.
• Board Continuity: Dr. Benson will continue to serve as a director on the Board.
• Advisory Role: Dr. Benson will continue supporting Lithium Argentina AG in an advisory capacity following his transition to Lithium Africa.
• RSU Grant: Dr. Benson granted 750,000 Restricted Share Units (RSUs) in connection with his CEO appointment, subject to disinterested shareholder approval at the AGM on August 21, 2026, and acceptance by the TSX Venture Exchange.
• Corporate Update: The Company expects to provide a corporate update regarding the leadership transition following Dr. Benson's appointment.

Notable Quotes

• Tyron Breytenbach: "Building Lithium Africa alongside our partners and team has been a privilege of my career. The Company is now well-capitalized, well-partnered, and positioned for its next phase of growth, and I am proud to hand the reins to someone whose technical leadership has helped shape where we are today."
• Dr. Thomas Benson: "I am grateful to Tyron and the Board for the support and the opportunity to lead Lithium Africa as we enter the next phase of growth. My focus now is to build Lithium Africa into a leading exploration company through disciplined capital allocation, rigorous technical evaluation, and the same lithium-specific, cutting-edge exploration methods I have applied at some of the world's largest lithium deposits."
• Sam Pigott (CEO, Lithium Argentina AG): "Tom has been integral in helping Lithium Argentina define several of the largest lithium brine resources globally. We're delighted he'll continue supporting our team and wish him every success in leading Lithium Africa."