RE: RNS 03/07/26: GLND Appoints Rod McIllree as Managing Director3 Jul 2026 09:58
Ashton providing today's entertainment...
Within minutes of the RNS appearing, he was busy trying to rewrite the narrative while simultaneously congratulating himself for a "prediction" that wasn't much of a prediction at all.
The respective roles of the parties were already set out in an RNS issued around five weeks BEFORE Ashton's ‘prophetic’ post.
So congratulations on spotting what the company had already told the market. Outstanding detective work. 👏
He points to 80M's role involving "consultation with local citizens and stakeholders."
Well, quite. That's what we all thought would happen. Which makes the Ittoqqortoormiit episode all the more bizarre.
If stakeholder engagement was always recognised as being so important, why was RP put front and centre? Oh, I remember - his father was once there so of course he knows all about the place, its cultures and traditions. Or so he thought. ROFL.
In my opinion, the optics were poor, the execution looked clumsy, and the subsequent criticism from Greenland speaks for itself. Since then we've seen public reservations from relevant officials, an open letter from the Mayor of Kommuneqarfik Sermersooq, and now an RNS taking the unusual step of spelling out exactly who is responsible for permitting and regulatory engagement.
Coincidence? Readers can make up their own minds. Personally, I don't believe today's clarification is a coincidence. Those responsibilities didn't magically appear this week.
It looks very much as though the company is trying to distance itself from RP’s abysmal performance. Lets hope RM can maintain any goodwill that might still be intact.
The endless self-promotion, low-budget interviews, bizarre Dr Phil cameos and social media noise may have appealed to the RC, but they appear to have done precious little to enhance credibility where it actually matters. It would appear that the market doesn’t like it and nor do the people of Greenland.
Greenland isn't a PR campaign. Even if RP, LS and the Chump himself attempt to make it out to be. Show some respect. Less arrogance. More understanding and engagement.
It's a jurisdiction where trust, professionalism and respect count for considerably more than yet another cheap promotional video.
Hopefully today's RNS marks the point where substance finally takes precedence over spectacle. Hopefully RP and Dr Phil will fall silent and let the drills and numbers do the promotion. Their combined efforts have so far been rather less than stellar. LOL.
Personally, I think RM appears a far more suitable ambassador for the company.
His proven style seems considerably more measured and understated, which, in my opinion, is likely to resonate far better with the culture and expectations in Greenland.
If today's RNS signals that RM and WFE will now be taking the lead on regulatory engagement, I see that as a very sensible move.
As with all my posts — past, present and future — this is IMHO only. It’s opini