French has decided to leave Anglo American at the end of 2021 after 14 years with the company.
Mpumi Zikalala, currently managing director of De Beers managed operations, has been appointed as CEO of Kumba.
Both appointments will take effect on 1 January 2022. Mpumi’s successor at De Beers managed operations will be confirmed in due course.
“Mpumi’s extensive operational experience at De Beers will be instrumental as she builds on Kumba’s progress to drive sustained safe, world-class performance working closely with its strategic business partners,” says Mark Cutifani, chief executive of Anglo American.
“I am also delighted that, together with Nolitha Fakude as chair of our management board in South Africa and Natascha Viljoen as CEO of our PGM business, we will have three women of such high calibre leading our extensive interests in South Africa,” he adds.
“Themba will shape the strategy for our global iron ore, metallurgical coal and manganese interests. The premium quality of our steelmaking ingredients and the partnerships we will continue to build to develop cleaner steelmaking technologies have never been more critical as we work to tackle climate change,” says Cutifani.
In conjunction with these changes, Ruben Fernandes, CEO of Base Metals, will also take on accountability for the iron ore and the nickel operations in Brazil.
As planned, the Quellaveco copper operation in Peru will also move to the base metals portfolio once it is commissioned.
This streamlining of responsibilities will allow Ruben to maximise efficiencies across all of Anglo American’s operations in South America, alongside his global strategic responsibilities for base metals.
Cutifani thanked Seamus for his enormous contribution and unfailing commitment to Anglo American over 14 years, both as CEO of our coal businesses and in his more recent role leading our global bulks operations and strategy.
