VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - Feb. 18, 2011) - NovaGold Resources Inc. (TSX:NG)(NYSE Amex:NG) today announced the appointment of Elaine Sanders to the position of Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.

"Elaine has been an integral part of NovaGold's senior team since 2003," said Rick Van Nieuwenhuyse, President & CEO of NovaGold. "Her leadership and financial expertise will ensure NovaGold continues to meet the highest standards for corporate governance and financial disclosure as we grow the company and advance our projects toward our goal of being a low-cost million-ounce-a-year gold producer."

Ms. Sanders joined NovaGold as Controller in March 2003, was promoted to Vice President Finance in 2006, was appointed Corporate Secretary in 2008 and has been Interim CFO since April 2010. As CFO, Ms. Sanders continues to be responsible for financial strategy, structure and risk management, and for financial and regulatory reporting. As part of the executive team, Ms. Sanders also provides leadership for advancing the Company's core projects and maintaining strong relationships with its business and community partners.

Prior to joining NovaGold, Ms. Sanders worked in the high tech sector and in the assurance practice of Price Waterhouse. While with NovaGold, Ms. Sanders also took senior management positions with the Company's spin outs as Controller for SpectrumGold Inc. and CFO for Alexco Resource Corp. Ms. Sanders has nearly 20 years of experience in audit, finance and accounting with public and private companies. She has been involved with numerous financings and acquisitions, and has listed companies on both the TSX and NYSE-AMEX. Ms. Sanders holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Alberta and is a Chartered Accountant and Certified Public Accountant.

About NovaGold

NovaGold is a precious metals company engaged in the exploration and development of mineral properties in Alaska, U.S.A. and British Columbia, Canada. The Company is focused on advancing its two core properties, Donlin Creek and Galore Creek, with the objective of becoming a low-cost million-ounce-a-year gold producer, and offers superior leverage to gold with one of the largest reserve/resource bases of any junior or mid-tier gold company. NovaGold has a strong track record of expanding deposits through exploration success and forging collaborative partnerships, both with local communities and with major mining companies. The Donlin Creek project in Alaska, one of the world's largest undeveloped gold deposits, is held by a limited liability company owned equally by NovaGold and Barrick Gold U.S. Inc. The Galore Creek project in British Columbia, a large copper-gold-silver deposit, is held by a partnership owned equally by NovaGold and Teck Resources Limited. NovaGold also owns a 100% interest in the high-grade Ambler copper-zinc-gold-silver deposit in northern Alaska and has other earlier-stage exploration properties. NovaGold trades on the TSX and NYSE-AMEX under the symbol NG. More information is available at www.novagold.net or by emailing info@novagold.net.