EXECUTIVE TEAM
Our leadership team brings decades of experience in mining, project development, and capital markets. Under the guidance of CEO Matt Simpson, a mining executive with a track record of building world-class operations, Brazil Potash is advancing its flagship Autazes project with discipline, integrity, and vision.
Mayo Schmidt
Executive Chairman
Mr. Schmidt has served as Executive Chairman of the board of directors since January 2025. Most recently, Mr. Schmidt served as the chairman of the board of directors of VersaCold from May 2021 to August 2022. Mr. Schmidt previously served in a number of roles with Nutrien Ltd. (TSX: NTR), one of the world’s largest fertilizer manufacturers, including as a member and the chairman of the board of directors, as well as the transitional president and chief executive officer for one-year term, from February 2013 to December 2021. Mr. Schmidt was instrumental in the merger of Agrium Inc. and PotashCorp., which resulted in the formation of Nutrien. Mr. Schmidt also served as the president, chief executive officer and a director of Hydro One Ltd. (TSX: H) from 2015 to 2018, during which he led one of the largest IPOs in Canada, executed five acquisitions, and achieved significant cost reductions for Hydro One. Prior to Hydro One, Mr. Schmidt served as the president, chief executive officer and a director of Viterra Inc. from 2000 to 2012, during which he completed 24 acquisitions and transformed Saskatchewan Wheat Pool from a regional cooperative into a major global agriculture and food processing corporation with presence in 14 countries on four continents. Prior to Viterra Inc., Mr. Schmidt held senior management positions at several Fortune 100 companies, including General Mills, Inc., ConAgra, Inc., and ConAgra’s global KBC Trading and Processing Company. Mr. Schmidt has over 30 years of experiences in global agriculture, energy, and supply chain management. Mr. Schmidt received an Honorary Doctorate of Commerce degree in business and a Bachelor of Arts degree in business from Washburn University in 2016 and 1980, respectively.
Matthew Simpson
CEO
Mr. Simpson has served as our Chief Executive Officer and a director on our board of directors since October 2014. Mr. Simpson has also been the Chief Executive Officer and a member of the board of directors of Black Iron, Inc., a Toronto Stock Exchange listed iron ore exploration and development company, since October 2010. Prior to joining our Company, Mr. Simpson worked for the Iron Ore Company of Canada (which we refer to as “IOC”), a subsidiary of Rio Tinto plc and Mitsubishi Corp, from 2002 to 2010. At IOC, he held several progressive roles in Business Evaluation, Operations Planning, Continuous Improvement, and, in his last three years, as Mine General Manager. His work with IOC primarily took place at their Carol Lake iron ore deposit in Labrador. Prior to joining IOC, Mr. Simpson worked as a process engineer for Hatch Ltd., designing and debottlenecking metallurgical refineries around the world. Mr. Simpson has extensive experience in mine design, operations and project management. Mr. Simpson holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering, as well as a Master of Business Administration degree, from Queen’s University in Canada.
Ryan Ptolemy
CFO
Mr. Ptolemy has served as our Chief Financial Officer since July 2011. Mr. Ptolemy is a Chartered Professional Accountant, Certified General Accountant, and CFA charter holder. Mr. Ptolemy is also the Chief Financial Officer of various Toronto Stock Exchange and Cboe Canada listed public companies in the investment, fintech, and mining industries, as part of the Forbes & Manhattan, Inc. group of companies, such as Aberdeen International Inc. (since October 2010), Belo Sun Mining Corp. (since March 2010), and DeFi Technologies Inc. (formerly knowns as Valour Inc.) (since October 2009). Mr. Ptolemy also served as the Chief Financial Officer of EV Technology Group Ltd. from November 2020 to March 2024, and Sulliden Mining Capital Inc. from June 2020 to January 2024. Mr. Ptolemy holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Administrative and Commercial Studies from Western University in Canada.
Neil Said
Legal Council
Mr. Said has served as our Corporate Secretary since June 2018. Mr. Said has also been the corporate secretary of Belo Sun Mining Corp., a Toronto Stock Exchange listed mining company, since July 2020, and the chairman of Bluelake Minerals AB, a company that explores and develops mineral properties, since January 2019. Prior to that, Mr. Said served as the corporate secretary of several companies, including at Arena Minerals Inc. from July 2015 to November 2017, and Fura Gems Inc. from February 2013 to November 2017. Mr. Said is also a business executive and corporate securities lawyer who provides consulting services to various private companies and Toronto Stock Exchange, TSX Venture Exchange, Cboe Canada and Canadian Securities Exchange listed public companies in the mining, oil & gas, cannabis, gaming, and technology industries, as part of the Forbes & Manhattan, Inc. group of companies. Mr. Said previously worked as a securities lawyer at a large Toronto corporate law firm, where he worked on a variety of corporate and commercial transactions. Mr. Said holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (Honors) degree with a minor in Economics from Wilfrid Laurier University in Canada, and a Juris Doctor degree from the Faculty of Law at the University of Toronto in Canada.