Vedanta Resources, a diversified mining group, has announced the appointment of Chris Griffith as its new CEO for Base Metals and President of its International Businesses, effective October 2, 2023.
Griffith, who previously led Gold Fields, one of the world’s largest gold producers, will oversee Vedanta’s operations in South Africa, Namibia, Liberia, Zambia, UAE and India. He will also be part of the broader strategic leadership for the company and provide guidance for its businesses outside India.
Anil Agarwal, Chairman of Vedanta Group, said in a statement that Griffith’s extensive experience and leadership track record in the mining industry made him an invaluable addition to the team, especially as Vedanta embarked on an exciting growth phase in its copper business with the return of KCM to its portfolio.
KCM, or Konkola Copper Mines, is Zambia’s largest integrated copper producer. Vedanta Resources acquired a 51% stake in KCM in 2004 for $48.2 million and increased it to 79.4% by March 2023. However, in 2019, the Zambian government seized KCM and placed it under liquidation, alleging breaches of environmental and financial regulations by Vedanta. After a prolonged legal battle, Vedanta announced on September 5 that it had regained ownership and management of KCM.
Griffith said he was excited to take on the new role at Vedanta, one of the world’s most fast-growing mining and metals companies. He said he looked forward to driving innovation, operational efficiency, and sustainable growth across Vedanta’s base metals businesses, creating KCM as a cornerstone asset for the company and growing the group internationally.
Griffith has over 30 years of experience in the mining sector. He was the CEO of Gold Fields from February to December 2022. Before that, he was the CEO of Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) from 2013 to 2020 and the CEO of Kumba Iron Ore from 2008 to 2013. He is credited with improving operational performance, increasing profitability, and reducing environmental impact at these companies.
Vedanta Resources is a London-based company interested in zinc, lead, silver, copper, iron ore, aluminum, power, oil and gas. It operates in India through its subsidiary Vedanta Ltd, which holds a majority stake in Hindustan Zinc and Cairn India. Vedanta Resources reported a revenue of $11.6 billion and an EBITDA of $4.6 billion for the financial year ended March 31, 2023.
Source: Mining Review
