Liberty Gold Strengthens Executive Team to Support Advancement of Black Pine

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 19, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Liberty Gold Corp. (TSX: LGD; OTCQX: LGDTF) (“Liberty Gold” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce the promotion of two senior leaders to Vice President positions, further strengthening the executive team as the Company advances its flagship Black Pine Oxide Gold Project toward development.

Susie Bell has been promoted to Vice President, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications, and Matthew Zietlow has been promoted to Vice President, Permitting and External Affairs. These appointments reflect Liberty Gold’s continued evolution from a discovery focused organization to a disciplined U.S. gold developer advancing toward delivery.

Ms. Bell brings more than 23 years of experience in investor relations and corporate communications within the mining sector and has been with Liberty Gold since 2017. She has led Liberty Gold’s capital markets engagement and corporate communications strategy through successive stages of project advancement, strengthening institutional relationships and enhancing the Company’s external positioning as it transitions toward development.

Mr. Zietlow brings over 30 years of experience in mine permitting, regulatory compliance, reclamation, and closure across multiple jurisdictions in the western United States. His leadership has been integral to advancing Black Pine responsibly and collaboratively through federal and state permitting processes, as well as expanding Liberty Gold’s visibility within Idaho and local communities. Mr. Zietlow’s promotion recognizes the increasing importance of disciplined permitting, stakeholder engagement, and regulatory execution as Black Pine progresses along a defined development pathway.

Jon Gilligan, President and CEO of Liberty Gold stated, “As Liberty Gold transitions from discovery to delivery, building depth and continuity within our leadership team is essential. Susie and Matt have each demonstrated exceptional judgment, accountability, and alignment with our execution driven strategy. Their contributions have already been critical to our progress at Black Pine, and these promotions reflect both the responsibilities they are carrying today and the role they will play as we advance toward development. We are strengthening the organization deliberately to support the next phase of value creation.”-driven strategy. Their contributions have already been critical to our progress at Black Pine, and these promotions reflect both the responsibilities they are carrying today and the role they will play as we advance toward development. We are strengthening the organization deliberately to support the next phase of value creation.”

ABOUT LIBERTY GOLD

Liberty Gold is a U.S. focused gold development company building and advancing a pipeline of gold assets in the Great Basin, one of the world’s most productive and mining friendly gold regions. The Company’s flagship asset is the 100% owned Black Pine Oxide Gold Project in southern Idaho, a large scale, past-producing run-of-mine heap leach system being advanced through feasibility and permitting toward a modern open-pit mining operation. Liberty Gold also controls the Goldstrike Project in Utah, which remains an important part of the Company’s U.S. gold asset portfolio. The Company’s strategy is to responsibly develop high quality, long-life gold projects in supportive jurisdictions, led by an experienced team with a track record of discovery, development and delivering long term value.

For more information, visit  or contact:

Susie Bell, VP, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications

Phone: 604-632-4677 or Toll Free 1-877-632-4677

This news release contains “forward-looking information” and “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements or information concerning, future financial or operating performance of Liberty Gold and its business, operations, properties and condition; planned de-risking activities at Liberty Gold’s mineral properties; future updates to the mineral resource, the potential quantity, recoverability and/or grade of minerals; the potential size of a mineralized zone or potential expansion of mineralization; proposed exploration and development of Liberty Gold’s exploration property interests; future water rights acquisitions; the results of mineral resource estimates or mineral reserve estimates and preliminary feasibility studies; and the Company’s anticipated expenditures.

Forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "planned", "expect", "project", "predict", "potential", "targeting", "intends", "believe", "potential", and similar expressions, or describes a "goal", or variation of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "should", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and is based upon a number of estimates and assumptions of management at the date the statements are made including, among others, assumptions about future prices of gold, and other metal prices, currency exchange rates and interest rates, favourable operating conditions, political stability, timely receipt of governmental or regulatory approvals, including any stock exchange approvals; receipt of a financing on time, obtaining renewals for existing licenses and permits and obtaining required licenses and permits, labour stability, stability in market conditions, availability of equipment, results or timing of any mineral resources, results or timing of any baseline studies, resource conversion, pre-feasibility study,  mineral reserves, or feasibility study; the availability of drill rigs, successful resolution of disputes and anticipated costs and expenditures. Many assumptions are based on factors and events that are not within the control of Liberty Gold and there is no assurance they will prove to be correct.

Such forward-looking information, involves known and unknown risks, which may cause the actual results to be materially different from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including, risks related to the interpretation of results and/or the reliance on technical information provided by third parties as related to the Company’s mineral property interests; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; current economic conditions; future prices of commodities; possible variations in grade or recovery rates; the costs and timing of the development of new deposits; failure of equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; the failure of contracted parties to perform; the timing and success of exploration activities generally; the timing or results of the publication of any mineral resources, mineral reserves or feasibility studies; delays in permitting; possible claims against the Company; labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; delays in obtaining governmental approvals, financing, timing of the completion of exploration as well as those factors discussed in the Annual Information Form of the Company dated March 25, 2025, in the section entitled "Risk Factors", under Liberty Gold’s SEDAR+ profile at .

Although Liberty Gold has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate as actual results, and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Liberty Gold disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except for material differences between actual results and previously disclosed material forward-looking information, or as otherwise required by law.

Except for statements of historical fact, information contained herein or incorporated by reference herein constitutes forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. All forward-looking statements and forward-looking information attributable to us is expressly qualified by these cautionary statements.