Kirkland Lake Gold I : Kirkland Lake Gold Directorate Change

P.O. Box 370

KIRKLAND LAKE, ON, P2N 3J7

January 16, 2012

Symbol - TSX & AIM: KGI

KIRKLAND LAKE GOLD DIRECTORATE CHANGE

Kirkland Lake Gold Inc., ('Kirkland Lake' or the 'Company'), an operating and exploration gold mining company located in Ontario, Canada, announces the retirement of George Milton as a non-executive director with immediate effect.

Mr. Harry Dobson, Chairman commented, "On a personal note, I would like to thank George for his extraordinary support and contribution as a director for the last 10 years, helping build Kirkland Lake Gold. He will remain supportive and take a keen interest in the ongoing development and success of the business which is the largest company and employer in his home town."

About the Company

The Company purchased the Macassa Mine and the 1,450 ton per day mill along with four former producing gold properties - Kirkland Lake, Teck-Hughes, Lake Shore and Wright Hargreaves - in December 2001. These properties, which have historically produced approximately 22 million ounces of gold, extend over seven kilometres between the Macassa Mine to the west and Wright Hargreaves to the east and, for the first time, are being developed and explored under one owner. This camp is located in the Southern Abitibi Greenstone Belt of Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada.

For further information, please contact:

Brian Hinchcliffe
President
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]
Lindsay Carpenter
Director of Investor Relations
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]
Lorna Spears / Philippe Polman
Pelham Bell Pottinger
Phone: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]
Guy Wilkes
Ocean Equities Ltd.
Phone: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]
NOMAD: Panmure Gordon (UK) Limited
Katherine Roe / Callum Stewart
Phone: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]

Website- www.klgold.com

Neither the Toronto Stock Exchange nor the AIM Market of the London Stock Exchange has reviewed and neither accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements
This Press Release may contain statements which constitute 'forward-looking, including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of the Company, its directors, or its officers with respect to the future
business activities and operating performance of the Company. The words "may", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company, or its

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management, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that any such forward- looking statements are not guarantees of future business activities or performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and that the Company's future business activities may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. Such risks, uncertainties and factors are described in the periodic filings with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities, including the Company's Annual Information Form and quarterly and annual Management's Discussion & Analysis, which may be viewed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Although the Company has attempted to identify important risks, uncertainties and factors which could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be others that cause results not be as anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements.