NEW YORK - Applied Minerals Inc., a producer of halloysite clay and advanced natural iron oxides, has appointed Brian Newsome as its Director of Sales. Newsome will manage the sales, distribution and marketing efforts for the company's various product lines.

Newsome began his career at BASF Catalysts LLC, formerly Engelhard Corp., in 1994 and worked in a number of senior sales roles. From 2012 to 2015, he was a Sales Manager at BASF Corp. While there, he focused on the sale of specialty kaolin to the paint, coatings, plastics and rubber markets in the southern and western United States. During his tenure, he was credited with the development of new business, oversaw territory sales growth of 18 percent and restructured the firm's distribution network to yield greater efficiencies.