Item 5.02Item 5.02 - Departure/Election of Directors
Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers;
Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
On July 27, 2026, International Tower Hill Mines
Ltd. (the “Company”) announced the appointments of David Wiens as Chief Executive Officer, effective August 17, 2026 (the
“Wiens Start Date”), and Shane Parrow as President and Chief Operating Officer, effective July 27, 2026 (the “Parrow
Start Date”). Mr. Wiens and Mr. Parrow were also elected to the Company’s Board of Directors (“Board”), each effective
as of the applicable start date. Mr. Wiens will succeed Karl Hanneman, who will transition from his role as Chief Executive Officer and
remain with the Company as Strategic Advisor. Mr. Hanneman will also remain on the Board.
Appointment of David Wiens
David Wiens, age 46, previously served as Chief
Financial Officer of Asante Gold Corporation (“Asante”) from August 2023 to the present. At Asante, Mr. Wiens led complex
financing and recapitalization initiatives totaling more than $1 billion and helped advance the company toward mid-tier gold producer
status. Prior to working for Asante, he was the Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary for Bunker Hill Mining Corp. from January
2021 through August 2023 and, prior to that, Mr. Wiens held senior executive and investment banking roles at several financial institutions, including Deutsche Bank.
In connection with Mr. Wiens’ appointment
as Chief Executive Officer, the Company entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Wiens (the “Wiens Employment Agreement”)
pursuant to which Mr. Wiens’ annual base salary will be $450,000 and he will be eligible for a target annual cash bonus in an amount
equal to 75% of his base salary, pro-rated for the 2026 calendar year, calculated from the Wiens Start Date. Commencing in 2027, Mr. Wiens
also will be eligible to receive an annual equity award under the Company’s 2006 Incentive Stock Plan in an amount targeted at 150%
of Mr. Wiens’ base salary, subject to criteria determined by the Board or the Compensation Committee of the Board.
In accordance with the Wiens Employment Agreement,
the independent members of the Board approved the grant to Mr. Wiens, effective as of the Wiens Start Date, of a new hire equity award
(the “Wiens Equity Award”) of time-based restricted stock units (“RSUs”) with an aggregate grant date value of
$1,650,000 that will vest in three equal annual installments beginning on the first anniversary of the Wiens Start Date, subject to his
continued service with the Company on each vesting date. The Wiens Equity Award was issued pursuant to the employment inducement award
exemption to the stockholder approval requirements under the rules of the NYSE American (the “NYSE American inducement award exemption”)
and the Toronto Stock Exchange (the “TSX inducement award exemption”).
The Wiens Employment Agreement generally
provides the following severance benefits upon certain qualifying terminations of employment (including termination without
Cause or with Good Reason, as defined in the Wiens Employment Agreement): cash severance equal to one year’s base
salary and one year’s target annual performance bonus determined at 100%, plus the prorated portion of his annual performance bonus
determined at 100%. In addition, the unvested portion of the Wiens Equity Award will automatically vest and a prorated portion of any
other equity compensation awards will vest, provided that any performance-based awards will vest based on prorated performance targets.
Severance in all circumstances includes continuation of health insurance coverage for up to one year.
If Mr. Wiens is terminated without Cause or resigns
within six months of a change in control (as defined in the Wiens Employment Agreement), severance benefits will include cash severance
equal to two years’ base salary and two year’s target annual performance bonus determined at 100%, plus the prorated portion
of his annual performance bonus determined at 100%. In addition, the unvested portion of the Wiens Equity Award will automatically vest
and 100% of any other equity compensation awards will vest, provided that any performance-based awards will vest based on prorated performance
targets.
In the event of termination because Mr. Wiens
is not able to obtain U.S. immigration permission to work in Fairbanks, Alaska by March 31, 2028, severance benefits will include cash
severance equal to 50% of the sum of (i) one year’s base salary, (ii) one year’s annual performance bonus determined at 100%,
plus (iii) the prorated portion of his annual performance bonus determined at 100%. In addition, the unvested portion of the Wiens Equity
Award will automatically vest and a prorated portion of any other equity compensation awards will vest, provided that any performance-based
awards will vest on a pro-rated basis.
Following his relocation to Fairbanks, Alaska,
Mr. Wiens will be eligible to participate in the Company’s employee benefit plans (including certain retirement and health and welfare
benefit plans) on terms substantially similar to those that apply for other executive officers of the Company from time to time. Prior
to such relocation, the Company will provide a stipend in lieu of health and retirement-related benefits. Mr. Wiens will also be entitled
to a relocation allowance and temporary housing benefits in amounts determined by the Board upon his relocation to Fairbanks, Alaska.
Benefits under the Wiens Employment Agreement
are generally subject to Mr. Wien’s compliance with customary restrictive covenants, including a one-year non-compete and non-solicitation
requirement. Payment of severance is subject to execution of a general release of claims.
Mr. Wiens’ appointment as Chief Executive
Officer was not pursuant to any arrangement or understanding between Mr. Wiens and any other person. There is no family relationship between
Mr. Wiens and any director or executive officer of the Company, and there are no transactions involving Mr. Wiens requiring disclosure
under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.
The foregoing description of the Wiens Employment
Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Wiens Employment Agreement, the form of which is filed as
Exhibit 10.1 and is incorporated by reference in this Current Report on Form 8-K.
Appointment of Shane Parrow
Shane Parrow, age 51, previously served from
January 2026 through June 2026 as Vice President & General Manager of Kinross Gold Corporation (“Kinross”),
overseeing the Fort Knox and Manh Choh operations. Prior to that, he served as Vice President & Deputy General Manager of
Kinross from March 2025 through January 2026 and as Operations Director for Kinross on the Manh Choh project from October 2022
through March 2025. Prior to his employment at Kinross, Mr. Parrow served as General Manager of Florida Canyon Mining, Inc. from
August, 2021 through September 2022 and as Mine Support Manager of Sibanye-Stillwater from October 2019 through August 2021.
In connection with Mr. Parrow’s appointment
as President and Chief Operating Officer, Tower Hill Mines (US) LLC, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, entered into
an employment agreement with Mr. Parrow (the “Parrow Employment Agreement”) pursuant to which Mr. Parrow’s annual base
salary will be $400,000 and he will be eligible for a target annual bonus in an amount equal to 50% of his base salary, pro-rated for
the 2026 calendar year, calculated from the Parrow Start Date. Commencing in 2027, Mr. Parrow will also be eligible to receive an annual
equity award under the Company’s 2006 Incentive Stock Plan in an amount targeted at 60% of Mr. Parrow’s base salary, subject
to criteria determined by the Board or the Compensation Committee of the Board.
In accordance with the Parrow Employment Agreement,
the independent members of the Board approved the grant to Mr. Parrow, effective as of the Parrow Start Date, of a new hire equity award
(the “Parrow Equity Award”) of 312,500 RSUs with an aggregate grant date value of $650,000 that will vest in three equal annual
installments beginning on the first anniversary of the Parrow Start Date, subject to his continued service with the Company on each vesting
date. The RSUs will be subject to the terms and conditions of an Inducement Award Agreement for Restricted Share Units. The Parrow Equity
Award is being issued pursuant to the NYSE American inducement award exemption and the TSX inducement award exemption.
The Parrow Employment Agreement generally
provides the following severance benefits upon certain qualifying terminations of employment (including termination without
Cause or with Good Reason, as defined in the Parrow Employment Agreement): cash severance equal to one year’s base
salary plus the prorated portion of his annual performance bonus determined at 100%. In addition, the unvested portion of the Parrow Equity
Award will automatically vest and a prorated portion of any other equity compensation awards will vest, provided that any performance-based
awards will vest based on prorated performance targets. Severance in all circumstances includes continuation of health insurance coverage
for up to one year.
In the event of termination without Cause or with
Good Reason within six months of a change in control (as defined in the Parrow Employment Agreement), severance benefits will include
cash severance equal to one years’ base salary plus the prorated portion of his annual performance bonus determined at 100%. In
addition, the unvested portion of the Parrow Equity Award will automatically vest and a prorated portion of any other equity compensation
awards will vest, provided that any performance-based awards will vest based on prorated performance targets.
Mr. Parrow will also be eligible to participate
in the Company’s employee benefit plans (including certain retirement and health and welfare benefit plans) on terms substantially
similar to those that apply for other executive officers of the Company from time to time.
Benefits under the Parrow Employment Agreement
are generally subject to Mr. Parrow’s compliance with customary restrictive covenants, including a one-year non-compete and non-solicitation
requirement. Payment of severance is subject to execution of a general release of claims.
Mr. Parrow’s appointment as President and
Chief Operating Officer was not pursuant to any arrangement or understanding between Mr. Parrow and any other person. There is no family
relationship between Mr. Parrow and any director or executive officer of the Company, and there are no transactions involving Mr. Parrow
requiring disclosure under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.
The foregoing description of the Parrow Employment
Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Parrow Employment Agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit
10.2 and is incorporated by reference in this Current Report on Form 8-K.
Appointment of New Directors
On July 27, 2026, the Board expanded the size
of the Board from seven directors to nine directors and appointed Shane Parrow, effective as of the Parrow Start Date, and David Wiens,
effective as of the Wiens Start Date, to fill the vacancies created by the expansion. The term for each will expire at the annual meeting
of shareholders in 2027 and until his successor is elected and qualified, or until his earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification
or removal. Neither Mr. Wiens nor Mr. Parrow will serve on any committees of the Board nor receive additional compensation for his service
on the Board.
As noted above, there are no transactions involving
Mr. Wiens or Mr. Parrow requiring disclosure under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K. There are no arrangements or understandings between
Mr. Wiens or Mr. Parrow and any other persons pursuant to which Mr. Wiens or Mr. Parrow was elected as a director.