Golden Minerals Company announced the appointment of Warren Rehn to the position of Vice President of Exploration. The company also announced the planned retirement of Robert Blakestad, the company's Senior Vice President of Exploration, effective February 29, 2012. Mr. Rehn has 30 years of mineral exploration experience. He was previously employed by Barrick Gold Exploration, most recently as the Chief Exploration Geologist for the Bald Mountain and Ruby Hill Mines. In this position he was responsible for planning and supervising gold exploration programs for intrusion-related and Carlin style deposits, with recent significant discoveries at both mine sites. Prior to joining Barrick, Mr. Rehn was a consultant with Gerson Lehman Group and for 10 years was a co-owner in a specialty geochemical consulting firm. Mr. Rehn has also worked as an exploration geologist with Placer Dome Exploration, Bear Creek Mining, Cyprus Amax, Bema Gold, Noranda Exploration and Gold Fields Mining Corporation. He has considerable exploration experience in the United States, Canada and throughout Latin America. Mr. Rehn will assume his new position on February 13, 2012. His responsibilities will include managing all aspects of the company's global exploration program. In addition, Mr. Rehn will lead the company's efforts to rationalize the company's exploration portfolio of approximately 80 projects in Mexico, Peru and Argentina. Bob Blakestad has elected to retire after a distinguished career as an exploration geologist in the mining industry. He was instrumental in the discovery of the company's El Quevar project, and in assembling an impressive exploration portfolio for the company.