Ivanhoe Atlantic has implemented a board and management team change to strengthen the company’s focus on the United States as it prepares for construction at its flagship Kon Kweni ultra-high grade iron ore project. This strategic change follows the Liberian legislative ratification of Ivanhoe Atlantic’s Concession and Access Agreement, which provides access to multi-user rail and port infrastructure in Liberia to transport iron ore from Guinea.
With clear U.S. backing, Ivanhoe Atlantic’s investment in Liberia advances relations between it and America, at a time when corridors that connect mining investments and critical minerals are a priority of the U.S. administration under President Donald J. Trump.
Former U.S. Ambassador Leads Ivanhoe Atlantic
Ivanhoe Atlantic announced key changes to its leadership team with U.S. Ambassador (Ret.) J. Peter Pham transitioning to Executive Chairman and Interim Chief Executive Officer from the role of Non-Executive Chairman, a position he has held since September 2023. J. Peter Pham served as the United States Special Envoy for the Great Lakes (2018-2020) and Sahel (2020-2021) Regions of Africa, with the personal rank of U.S. Ambassador granted by President Donald J. Trump.
Mr Erik Bethel, Ms. Samantha Carl-Yoder, and Mr. Daniel Pfeffer (U.S. citizens) have been appointed as non-executive directors, bringing deep technical, financial, and managerial experience across operating and investment roles. Mr Bethel is a seasoned global finance professional with extensive experience across both the private and public sectors. Ms. Carl-Yoder serves as Co-Chair of the International and Critical Minerals Practices at Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck and previously spent two decades at the U.S. Department of State. Mr. Pfeffer has spent most of his career in the global critical minerals sector, bringing deep technical, financial, and managerial experience to Ivanhoe Atlantic.
These appointments support Ivanhoe Atlantic’s focus on delivery as the Company prepares for future capital raising exclusively in U.S.-aligned markets to fund the construction of its flagship Kon Kweni ultra-high grade iron ore project in Guinea.
U.S. Critical Minerals
Robert Friedland, Chairman of I-Pulse Inc – Ivanhoe Atlantic’s majority shareholder, met on Monday with U.S. President Donald J. Trump at the White House in Washington, D.C. President Trump congratulated Mr. Friedland for his work on bringing metals to the U.S. market and said he’s doing ‘a great job’.
With the launch of President Trump’s ‘Project Vault’ – a $1.67 billion critical-minerals stockpile to insulate private U.S. markets from supply shocks – corridors like the Liberty Corridor that connects the Yekepa-Buchanan railway and port to global markets are central for spotlighting Liberia in international markets and increasing attractiveness for foreign direct investment.
The inauguration of the National Rail Authority is also critical to establishing the corridor and generating millions in revenue for Liberia.
On February 4, 2026, Secretary of State, Marco Rubio hosted the inaugural Critical Minerals Ministerial at the Department of State. The event welcomed delegations from over 50 nations to advance collective efforts to strengthen and diversify critical minerals supply chains. This Ministerial was convened to secure the U.S.’s supply to critical mineral components vital to technological innovation, economic strength, and national security.
