Ucore Rare Metals Inc. Nov. 22 announced the appointment of Patrick Ryan as chairman of its board of directors.

He is the founder of Neocon International, a Nova Scotia-based plastics manufacturing company that serves as a tier one supplier to leading automotive enterprises such as Toyota, Nissan and General Motors.

Since Neocon's inception in 1993, Ryan has been the company's strategic architect, responsible for sales growth and capital acquisitions, while directing a team of research and development engineers and promoting stringent production standards.

Under Ryan's direction, Neocon was acquired in 2002 by Exco Technologies Ltd., a Toronto Stock Exchange listed company.

"Tier one companies are the most technically-capable suppliers in the automotive manufacturing chain," explained Ucore President and CEO Jim McKenzie.

"As chief architect of Neocon, Mr. Ryan brings a vast skill set to Ucore as we transition to a revenue business model with energy metal production.

The end customers of our strategic metals complex will be tier one, two and three in a sophisticated supply chain, all of which Mr. Ryan is very attuned to serving, including such Global 1000 customers as General Motors, Nissan and Toyota among others." Ucore also announced the appointment of Steven Meister to its board.

Meister is director of client development and delivery with Williams Engineering Canada Ltd., an engineering firm with offices across western and northern Canada.

As a member of the senior leadership team at Williams, his key responsibilities include managing the northern Canada operating region, as well as directing business development and project management.

Since 1995, Meister has been strategically involved in business initiatives throughout the mining, oil and gas, and utilities industries across northern and western Canada.

He previously served as northern Canada operations manager for Stantec, and for ARDICOM, an aboriginal partnership between Northern Aboriginal Services Company, Arctic Cooperatives Ltd. and Northwestel.

"Mr. Meister is a specialist in senior business development, targeting leading companies in the mining, (oil and gas), and utilities sectors.

Together, these specialists make for an exceptional complement to Ucore's governance, management and advisory resources," added McKenzie.