NOVAGOLD Announces Appointment of Project Director to Lead Advancement of the Donlin Gold Project

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 13, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NOVAGOLD RESOURCES INC. (“NOVAGOLD” or the “Company”) (NYSE American, TSX: NG) is pleased to announce the appointment of Frank Arcese as Project Director to Donlin Gold LLC (“Donlin Gold”), bringing more than four decades of global project leadership to Donlin Gold. This hiring further strengthens the team as we prepare to launch the work on the Bankable Feasibility Study (BFS) and progress the project toward development.

Mr. Arcese has deep experience in the execution of large-scale mining capital projects in both the U.S. and international jurisdictions. Most recently, he served as Capital Projects Business Leader for North American mining operations at WSP Global Inc., an Engineering, Procurement, and Construction Management (EPCM) firm. Prior to that, he acted as Project Director on multiple large mining and power plant projects for Rio Tinto across the U.S., Mongolia, and Argentina, and brings extensive expertise in managing projects in remote environments.

His expertise spans feasibility planning, project execution strategy, risk management, and building high‑performance technical and project management teams capable of delivering world‑class mining assets responsibly and efficiently. Select credentials of successful projects include Teck Resource’s original Quebrada Blanca in Chile, BHP’s Escondida Phase 3 and SX-EW Plant in Chile, and recently Rio Tinto’s Rincon 3000 Lithium Project in Argentina where Mr. Arcese set-up the project.

“I am thrilled to have joined Donlin Gold at such a pivotal moment,” said Mr. Arcese. “Donlin is one of the most outstanding development-stage gold deposits in the world, and I feel privileged to contribute to the decades of diligent work that have set the stage for what has the potential to become the largest single gold mine in the U.S. As we advance toward a BFS, my focus will be on ensuring the technical rigor, collaboration, and disciplined planning required to position the project for a future construction decision. Alaska is a truly wonderful place to be a miner, and I am excited to start working closely with our partners, stakeholders, and local communities.”