SANTIAGO, June 22 (Reuters) – Chile lithium miner SQM said on Friday it had decided against hiring former Chairman Julio Ponce as an adviser, reversing a decision that had sparked criticism from politicians and Chile's business community.
"Given that his hiring as an adviser has caused public differences of opinion, we have agreed that Julio Ponce will not be an adviser to SQM," Salas said.
State development agency Corfo, which oversees SQM's lease in the Salar de Atacama, initially said it found that the ban that prevented Ponce and his family from decision-making at the company did not preclude him from taking on an "advisory" role.
Ponce's return to the company's operations nonetheless sparked criticism from politicians from both the governing coalition and the opposition.
Chile's finance minister earlier this month described the move as "imprudent."