Global miner Anglo American (LON:AAL) announced Thursday changes at the top that will see Ruben Fernandes, chief executive officer of the company in Brazil, being replaced by mining veteran Wilfred (Bill) Bruijn, effective March 1.
Fernandes, who has led Anglo’s iron ore and nickel interests in the South American country for almost three years, will become CEO of Base Metals. That position is currently held by Duncan Wanblad, who will now focus solely on his role as Group Director of Strategy and Business Development, the group said in a statement.
During his management, Fernandes dealt with an eight-month stoppage at the company’s giant Minas Rio iron ore mine, located in the Brazilian resource-rich state of Minas Gerais. Operations there were halted in March last year, following the discovery of leaks in a pipeline that carried ore to a port in Rio de Janeiro for export.
Mining only resumed last month, after the world’s number four diversified miner replaced 4km of pipeline and decided to shorten the intervals for future inspections to two years from five years.
Today’s announced changes follow the group’s decision to divide management of its global Base Metals business from its Strategy and Business Development activities, Anglo said. “As we progress the transformation of Anglo American’s performance to unlock our full potential, it is appropriate that we allocate dedicated executive responsibility to these two important portfolios,” chief executive Mark Cutifani said.
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