Critical Metals plc / EPIC: CRTM / Market: Main Market

2 September 2025

Critical Metals Plc

("Critical Metals" or the "Company") 

Board Changes

Critical Metals plc (LSE:CRTM), developer and operator of the Molulu Copper/Cobalt Project ("Molulu") in the Democratic Republic of Congo, announces that Mr Russell Fryer has stepped down from the board of the Company and his role as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company for personal reasons, effective immediately. 

The Board recognises Russell's significant contribution and dedication in founding and leading Critical Metals plc from its inception and wishes him all the very best in his future endeavours.

The board has appointed Ali Farid Khwaja as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Company with immediate effect. 

Mr Khwaja has over twenty years' experience in commerce and has established leading positions in a number of companies as a Founder, Partner and CFO. Ali brings deep experience of investing and operating across emerging markets, especially in the Middle East, Africa and Central Asia as well as European and USA public markets. He is one of the founders of Oxford Frontier Capital, a company builder that owns successful ventures in Saudi Arabia, UAE and Pakistan including KTrade Securities. Previously he was a Partner at Autonomous Research and prior to that was Group CFO and Board Director of AIM listed SafeCharge International Group (acquired by NUVEI). Ali has been one of the top ranked analysts at Berenberg, Kudu Emerging Markets and UBS. He is an alumnus of Oxford University, where he was a Rhodes Scholar. 

Mr Khwaja commented "I am delighted to join Critical Metals plc and look forward to working as a team to bring our plans into  fruition. The restructuring that has been completed enables Critical Metals to develop the Molulu opportunity and I am looking forward to leading the group in this endeavour."

Commenting on his departure, Mr Fryer said: "It has been an honour to serve on the Board of Critical Metals.  The recent recapitalisation of the Company provide a solid base from which to move forward. I wish the Company every success for the future as it continues to advance Molulu."

**ENDS**

About Critical Metals

Critical Metals plc whose shares are admitted to Equity Shares (transition) Category of the Official List and to trading on the Main Market is focused developing the formerly producing Molulu Copper/Cobalt Project in the Katangan Copperbelt in Democratic Republic of Congo ('DRC').