First Nickel Names Mark E. Isto Vice President Operations

TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwire) -- 05/02/12 -- First Nickel Inc. ("First Nickel", "FNI" or the "Company") (TSX: FNI) announces that Mark E. Isto has joined the Company as Vice President Operations. During Mr. Isto's 30 year career in mining he has held a number of progressively senior positions in operations and project management at two major mining companies, including head of technical services, project manager, mine general manager, and Senior Vice President of expansion projects and mining. He was most recently Senior Vice President of Infrastructure Projects at Kinross Gold Corp. Mr. Isto holds a Bachelor of Science degree in mining engineering from the Montana College of Mineral Science & Technology and a Masters in Business Administration degree from the University of Nevada - Reno.

The Operations position has been filled on an interim basis by Sean Samson, Vice President Corporate Development, since December. Mr. Samson, who was recently selected to receive the Canadian Institute of Mining-Bedford Canadian Young Mining Leader Award, will now focus his full attention on corporate development after a short transition period.

Thomas M Boehlert, President & Chief Executive Officer said "This appointment completes a strong First Nickel management team roster. Mark brings a tremendous amount of international mining and project management experience to the company. Mark and I have worked closely together in the past and I am excited to have another opportunity to work with him building First Nickel. I would also like to thank Sean for quality work he has done with the team at the Lockerby mine over the past five months."

About First Nickel Inc.

First Nickel is a Canadian mining and exploration company. The Company's mission is to be the most dynamic North American emerging base metal mining company in which to work and invest and to be respected in the communities in which we operate. FNI is in the process of ramping up production at its Lockerby nickel / copper mine in the Sudbury Basin in northern Ontario. Once the Lockerby Mine reaches full production (expected by end of 2012), it is expected to produce at a rate of approximately 10 million pounds of nickel and approximately 7 million pounds of copper annually, providing a strong base of cash flow from which to grow the Company. In addition to the Lockerby nickel mine, the Company owns exploration properties in the Sudbury Basin, the Timmins region of northern Ontario, and the Belmont region of Eastern Ontario. First Nickel's shares are traded on the TSX under the symbol FNI.

Contacts:

First Nickel Inc.

Thomas Boehlert

President & CEO

416 362-7050
tboehlert@firstnickel.com


CHF Investor Relations

Robin Cook

Senior Account Manager

416 868 1079 x 228
robin@chfir.com