# Sam Ataya

> Sam Ataya is the Las Vegas-based executive chairman and CEO of Western Magnesium Corporation, as identified in its February 2026 announcement. A former president of ASK Ventures and CEO of Vancouver’s Stirling Group, he joined Western Magnesium’s leadership in September 2018. His public work centres on commercializing magnesium production technology and developing a domestic US supply, with reported pilot milestones, customer-development agreements and a Nevada demonstration facility forming the documented arc.

- **Role:** Executive Chairman and CEO at Western Magnesium Corporation
- **Organizations:** Western Magnesium Corporation, The Stirling Group, ASK Ventures
- **Education:** Langara College, American University of London
- **Known for:** Led Western Magnesium during its June 2022 announcement of magnesium production at its commercial pilot plant., Company reported 99.83% magnesium purity in an unrefined first calibration sample in July 2022; this was a technical-team result under his leadership., Company announced a definitive CCMA agreement in February 2023 covering 25,000 metric tonnes from future main-plant production.

## Career timeline

- **1987-2008** — President of ASK Ventures, described in corporate filings as a venture capital firm.
- **2008-2018** — CEO of Vancouver-based Stirling Group, focused on corporate recapitalization, business models and funding networks.
- **2018-09-21** — Appointed CEO and elected a director of the company later named Western Magnesium Corporation.
- **2019-08** — Published LinkedIn essays about magnesium, manufacturing innovation and American readiness.
- **2020-01-31** — Appointed president of Western Magnesium.
- **2021-09** — Participated in the Harrison County, Ohio signing and unveiling event for a proposed magnesium plant.
- **2022-05** — Appeared on Fox Business to discuss domestic magnesium manufacturing.
- **2022-06** — Led Western Magnesium as it announced pilot-plant magnesium production.
- **2023-02** — Company announced a definitive CCMA agreement covering future production and a Nevada expansion proposal.
- **2026-02** — Identified as executive chairman and CEO in the announcement of a new demonstration facility near Las Vegas.

## Achievements

- Led Western Magnesium during its June 2022 announcement of magnesium production at its commercial pilot plant.
- Company reported 99.83% magnesium purity in an unrefined first calibration sample in July 2022; this was a technical-team result under his leadership.
- Company announced a definitive CCMA agreement in February 2023 covering 25,000 metric tonnes from future main-plant production.
- Company announced its move into a 44,000-square-foot Nevada demonstration facility in February 2026.

## Latest updates

- **2026-02** — On February 20, Western Magnesium announced a move into a 44,000-square-foot facility near Las Vegas for a redeveloped demonstration plant. It identified Ataya as executive chairman and CEO, said assembly was underway and announced a six-month completion target; the release does not establish subsequent commissioning.

## Links

- Website: https://www.westernmagnesium.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-ataya

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/sam-ataya
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-21