Premier strengthens senior management

Charlie Ronkos and Peter Mah added as Senior Technical Advisors

Shares Issued: 176,251,661

THUNDER BAY, ON, May 17, 2016 /CNW/ - Premier Gold Mines Limited (TSX-PG) is pleased to announce that it has retained the services of Mr. Charles (Charlie) Ronkos and Mr. Peter Mah as consulting Senior Technical Advisors. Both Charlie and Peter bring successful track record of exploration, mine development and corporate transactions that will serve Premier well as it now transitions from a significant explorer/developer into a producer.  Their responsibilities will include the development of the Company advanced projects as well the identification and due diligence of new project opportunities.

Charlie brings to Premier, 38 years of exploration-oriented experience in the mining industry, primarily in gold deposits in the United States, Canada and Latin America through all stages of exploration and development.  For more than 25 years, he held various geological and executive positions with Goldcorp Inc. and predecessor companies Rayrock Resources Inc. and Glamis Gold Ltd., most recently as Senior Vice President, Exploration at Goldcorp.  In this role Mr. Ronkos was responsible for global exploration activities, mainly in the western hemisphere, and is associated with the discovery of more than 40 million ounces of gold and 1.2 billion ounces of silver.  He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Wittenberg University and graduated from the University of Nevada with a Master of Science degree in 1981.  Prior to Goldcorp, Charlie worked on and evaluated projects around the world including assignments with Rio Algom, Battle Mountain Gold, Pegasus, Hecla and Cordex Exploration Co.

Peter Mah is a mining professional and executive with over 25 years of broad based international experience in project development and operations.  Peter has had previous experience working with some of Premier's Management Team having held engineering, operations and projects positions with Goldcorp and Placer Dome in the Red Lake and the Musslewhite gold mines.  Peter also played a key role in the development of the Victor diamond mine in Northwestern Ontario, and subsequently held the position of Mine General Manager.  Prior to this Peter was the Mine Manager at Newcrest's Kencana project in Indonesia where he built and operated the underground mine.  Most recently he held the position of COO and President of Avanti Kitsault Mining Ltd., Alloycorp Inc where he was responsible for developing strategy, scope and budget to deliver the $1B Avanti Kitsault mine.  Prior to this Mr. Mah held positions as COO and EVP of Luna Gold Corp. (2011-2014) and Group Executive, Newmont Mining Ltd (2010-2011) where he was responsible for scoping to feasibility stage development of 20 to 40 million ounces of near mine gold projects in Peru, Ghana, Canada, New Zealand and the United States. 

"We have had the pleasure of working with Peter and Charlie in previous roles and we look forward to their valuable contributions as we continue to grow Premier through successful exploration and acquisitions and working along side our valued project partners" commented Ewan Downie, President and CEO on the Company's C-Suite Blog (http://www.premiergoldmines.com/news/c-suite-blog).  "Both Charlie and Peter are well recognized veterans in our industry with diverse world-wide experience that will complement our existing team as we advance our key assets and assess additional project opportunities."

Premier Gold Mines Limited is one of North America's leading exploration and development companies with a high-quality pipeline of projects focused in proven, safe and accessible mining jurisdictions in Canada and the United States that includes world class gold mining districts such as Red Lake and Geraldton in Ontario and the Carlin and Eureka-Battle Mountain Trends in Nevada.  The Company is on track for initial gold production from its South Arturo joint venture in Nevada Q3 2016 and expects to end the year with approximately $75M.

The statements made in this Press Release may contain forward-looking statements that may involve a number of risks and uncertainties.  Actual events or results could differ materially from the Company's expectations and projections.

SOURCE Premier Gold Mines Limited

Ewan Downie, President & CEO, Phone: [phone], Fax: [phone], e-mail: [email protected], Web Site: www.premiergoldmines.com