Cape Town - Anglo American [JSE:AGL] on Thursday announced that its current chief executive Mark Cutifani will take over as chairperson of its South African operations.
He takes over from Michael Spicer, who is retiring from the board of Anglo American SA (AASA) with effect from 1 June 2015. Harry Calver is also retiring from the AASA board.
Anglo American said in a note to shareholders that the changes in its SA leadership structure followed a detailed governance review and "in light of SA's strategic importance to Anglo American, the reorganisation is expected to bring greater effectiveness and alignment across the group's diversified mining businesses in South Africa".
As part of the leadership restructuring, current Kumba Iron Ore [JSE:KIO] CEO Norman Mbazima will assume the role of deputy chairperson of AASA, but will still lead the Kumba business while fulfilling the fiduciary duties of the AASA board.
Andile Sangqu, former group executive of sustainability and risk at Impala Platinum [JSE:IMP], has been appointed to the newly established role of executive head. He will serve as a director on the AASA board and report to Norman Mbazima.
Board member Khanyisile Kweyama has also resigned from Anglo American with effect 31 May 2015 to focus on her role as CEO of Business Unity South Africa.
Cutifani said the changes demonstrate Anglo American's commitment to playing an active and leading role in the ongoing development of a responsible, sustainable and competitive business and mining sector in South Africa.
"As chairman, a key part of my role will be to reinforce our commitment as a development partner to all of our stakeholders in South Africa and to support the SA leadership team in building and maintaining stakeholders' trust and confidence in the Group," he said in a statement.