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The latest executive moves in the resources sector
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THE LATEST EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENTS
Keep up to date with the latest executive movements across the mining sector, including at Anglo American, Rio Tinto and Newmont.
Anglo American has appointed Duncan Wanblad as chief executive of the company following the retirement of Mark Cutifani.
Wanblad brings 30 years of international mining experience to the role, along with a deep understanding of Anglo American, having served in both executive and non-executive roles at the company.
He will commence as chief executive as of Anglo American’s annual general meeting on April 19 2022.
“Following a rigorous global process to identify Mark’s successor, including those on our internal succession plan, the board felt that Duncan is uniquely qualified to take Anglo American on the next phase of improvement,” Anglo American chairman Stuart Chambers said.
Rio Tinto group executive, strategy and development Peter Toth has stepped down, with his responsibilities to be divided between current executives.
He will leave the company on April 5 2022 and remain in an advisory role until the end of 2021.
Rio Tinto chief executive Jakob Stausholm said Toth has assisted in corporate strategy, portfolio restructure and climate change initiatives. Toth has spent seven years at Rio Tinto.
Newmont will be the lucky recipient of Toth as he takes up a similar role as head of strategic development from July 1 2022.
Newmont president and chief executive Tom Palmer said Toth would contribute 25 years of industry knowledge to position the company for a strong future.
“Peter brings a wealth of global commodity experience that will benefit Newmont as we enter our next 100 years as the world’s leading gold company,” Palmer said.
Fortescue Future Industries (FFI) has appointed Paul Browning as president and chief executive officer of FFI North America, which will see him champion FFI’s aspirations of building large-scale green hydrogen energy production in North America.
Browning has been the president and chief executive officer of Mitsubishi Power Americas since 2016, where he has overseen a team of 2300 people.
According to FFI chief executive officer Julie Shuttleworth, Browning comes with proven renewable energy experience and the entrepreneurial track record to advance FFI’s North American operations and grow its team.
Newcrest Mining non-executive chairman and non-executive director Peter Hay has retired, with the company appointing nonexecutive director Peter Tomsett to Hay’s role effective from the 2021 annual general meeting.
Tomsett joined Newcrest’s board in September 2018 and also serves as a member of the audit and risk committee, safety and sustainability committee and nominations committee.
He brings extensive gold mining business experience to the non-executive chairman role and has served in similar roles for Kidston Gold Mines, Equinox Minerals and Silver Standard Resources. He also spent most of his recent career in North America and holds both Australian and Canadian citizenship.
Newcrest has also appointed Sherry Duhe as chief financial officer of the company. Sherry takes over from the departing Gerard Bond.
Duhe has spent the past four years as chief financial officer and executive vice
president of Woodside Energy, where she has established extensive finance and leadership experience.
She has also held senior international roles at companies such as Shell Exploration & Production, Royal Dutch Shell and ExxonMobil.
“Sherry has extensive international experience across capital intensive and complex industries and is also a proven top 20 ASX-listed company chief financial officer who will bring her extensive financial expertise and leadership skills to Newcrest as we execute our growth strategy,” Newcrest managing director and chief executive officer Sandeep Biswas said.
Duhe will join Newcrest in early 2022.
Diatreme Resources has appointed former Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Treasurer Wayne Swan as chairman and non-executive director.
With connections across all levels of government, Swan offers Diatreme a strong advocate for economic development, Indigenous engagement, environmental protection, and health and safety.
The addition will see Diatreme’s current chairman Greg Starr return to the role of a non-executive director at the company.
Diatreme is an emerging silica sands explorer and miner with a portfolio of projects spanning Western Australia and Queensland.
Chalice Mining chairman Tim Goyder has announced his retirement from the board, effective from the company’s 2021 annual general meeting.
Goyder founded Chalice in 2006 and has been crucial to the company’s growth into its development studies phase.
He has agreed to consult the company in a part-time advisory role until the end of June 2022.
The company has appointed Derek La Ferla as non-executive chair of the company from October 1 and will seek reelection at the upcoming annual general meeting.
Following its merger with Firefly Resources, Gascoyne Resources has scooped up Firefly managing director and chief executive officer Simon Lawson as its managing director and chief executive officer.
Lawson brings a wealth of relevant experience and familiarity with the Gascoyne asset base, in addition to having intimate knowledge of the Yalgoo assets in Western Australia previously held by Firefly, including the Melville deposit, which Gascoyne plans to integrate into the Dalgaranga mine plan.
Having completed the merger, Gascoyne has now increased its landholding in the Murchison region to approximately 1200 square kilometres, with exploration projects currently underway.
Fenix Resources has appointed John Welborn as its non-executive chairman, effective from the company’s 2021 annual general meeting.
A highly accomplished and internationally respected mining company director and senior executive, Welborn has more than 20 years’ experience working in the resources sector.
Welborn was managing director and chief executive officer of Resolute Mining across a five-year period which saw the company’s market capitalisation grow from below $200 million to more than $1 billion, alongside a 300 per cent jump in its share price in the same timeframe.
Fenix stated that Welborn would assist in elevating the company’s iron ore capability which is currently represented by its Iron Ridge mine in Western Australia.
