South32 appoints Matt Daley as new CEO amid operational changes

SOUTH32, which operates in South Africa, Mozambique and Australia, has picked Anglo American technical and operations director Matt Daley as new CEO with effect from next year when incumbent Graham Kerr steps down.

- TAWANDA KAROMBO

In South Africa, South32 operates the Hillside Aluminium project although in January it temporarily shut down the Wessels manganese mine in the Northern Cape before re-opening it.

In March this year, Hillside was the subject of a claim by an Australian company that charged that the South32 subsidiary had improperly used intellectual property related to metal transportation at the South African operation.

Daley will initially join South32 as deputy CEO starting February next year before assuming the CEO role later in the year when Kerr steps down.

“(Daley) is a highly accomplished executive with extensive operational and leadership experience, including in copper and in the Americas, and the board is confident he is the right successor for Graham,” said South32 chairperson, Karen Wood.

Anglo American has also appointed Tom McCulley as technical director with immediate effect.