Mark Cutifani

In that period, he recruited a new Chief Executive and new Executive team members, established a complete asset review and revitalisation program delivering a 75% reduction in accident frequency rates, a 55% increase in business productivity and 30% reduction in operating costs. Under the new leadership team, the business has continued to improve and deliver new performance benchmarks. 

In 2022 Mark retired from his role as the Chief Executive (CE) of Anglo American (AA), after more than 9 years and delivering significant restructuring and revitalisation across all facets of its global mining business. In his period of tenure, AA delivered industry leading capital and shareholder returns (+22% average annual total shareholder returns) underpinned by a doubling of employee productivity and 40% real unit cost reductions. At the same time, AA moved from lagging industry performance in sustainability and innovation to being an acknowledged leader in value creation through new and progressive social, technical, and commercial transformations.

Prior to his AA position he was the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for AngloGold Ashanti. Mark was responsible for the recovery and turnaround of the business after successfully dealing with the industry’s most significant “out of the money” gold hedge book. Mark has also held senior executive positions with the Inco and Vale, the Normandy Group, Sons of Gwalia, Western Mining Corporation, Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines and CRA (Rio Tinto). Mark was also a past President of the International Council for Mining and Metals (ICMM) and the South African Chamber of Mines (now Minerals Council).

Consistent with his business transformational reputation, Mark has been honoured by both the Australian and South African mining industries, receiving the AusIMM Industry Award and the SAIMM Brigadier Stokes Awards, the peak industry awards for service to the industry. He has been recognised by Mines and Metals as the leading Mining Industry CEO in 2019 and in 2022 was awarded their Lifetime Achievement Award. In the areas of sustainability and responsible social development, he has been recognised by the Thomas Edison Global Innovation Awards for Collaborative Change through the Development Partner Institute (DPI), and he was the “Technoserve 50th Anniversary Honouree” – in honour of “extraordinary leadership in creating sustainable business solutions to end poverty around the world” and more recently as Europe’s most sustainable mining leader. Mark was recognised for his contribution to global mining in the UK in the 2024 King’s New Year Honours list, being awarded a CBE (Commander British Empire) for his “contribution to Global Mining Investment”. He has also been inducted into the US and South African Mining Halls of Fame and UK Lifetime Achievement Award.