Key points
- Thompson, COO since June 2023 and transitional CEO, becomes permanent CEO; Naidoo moves from CRO and interim CFO to CFO.
- Andre Basson, a Gold Fields-trained engineer with 33 years in mining, takes over as COO.
- The board has completed fit-and-proper assessments and approved changes to its committee structure from Sept. 25.
Copper 360 has appointed Gordon Thompson as chief executive and Seten Naidoo as chief financial officer, ending a period of transitional leadership at the JSE-listed copper producer.
The appointments took effect on Sept. 24. Thompson gave up his role as chief operating officer to take the top job, while Naidoo stepped down as chief risk officer to become CFO. Andre Basson has been named the new COO.
The moves formalize arrangements that were already in place. Thompson joined Copper 360 in June 2023 as COO and later served as transitional CEO.
Similarly, Naidoo joined in 2025 as CRO, recently acted as transitional commercial director and has been interim CFO since June.
Who is taking charge
Thompson is a professional certificated engineer with more than 25 years in mine development, construction, commissioning and operations across Africa. He has held senior executive and board roles at companies listed on the JSE, ASX and LSE, giving him experience across the three exchanges most relevant to African mining capital.
Naidoo brings 17 years in mining financial markets, spanning asset management and corporate strategy.
Before moving to the corporate side, he was ranked among the top mining and commodities analysts in the Financial Mail Analyst Rankings, which suggests investors will be dealing with a CFO who has sat on their side of the table.
Basson, meanwhile, is a Gold Fields-trained mining engineer with 33 years in the industry. His career runs from the copper mines of Namaqualand, where Copper 360 operates, to deep-level platinum and trackless underground zinc and platinum mining.
Governance boxes ticked
According to the company, fit-and-proper assessments for Thompson and Naidoo have been completed, and the board is satisfied with the outcomes.
The audit and risk committee has also confirmed that Naidoo has the competence, qualifications and experience required to serve as CFO and financial director under JSE rules.
In addition, the board approved changes to the composition and structure of its committees from Sept. 25, following a review by the nominations and governance committee.
Consequently, Copper 360 enters the final quarter of the year with a settled executive team drawn entirely from within, a signal that the board values continuity as the company works to build its Northern Cape copper operations.
