Cutifani Said to Be Leading Candidate for Anglo CEO Post – by Matthew Campbell & Firat Kayakiran (Bloomberg.com – January 5, 2013)

http://www.bloomberg.com/

AngloGold Ashanti Ltd. (ANG) Chief Executive Officer Mark Cutifani is the leading contender to replace Cynthia Carroll at the helm of mining company Anglo American Plc (AAL), according to people familiar with the situation.

Cutifani has emerged at the top of a list of candidates that has included former BHP Billiton Ltd. (BHP) CEO Chip Goodyear and Chris Griffith, the head of Anglo American’s platinum unit, said the people, who asked not to identified because the matter is private. The decision isn’t yet final on a replacement for Carroll, who said in October she would resign as CEO of the London-based miner after a $14 billion drop in market value.

Carroll’s successor may be announced within two weeks, the people said. The new CEO will face the challenge of increasing growth at Anglo American, which has struggled with cost overruns at projects, including the Minas-Rio iron ore mine in Brazil, and sparred with Chilean state mining company Codelco.

“Mark is a pretty energetic guy,” said Caesar Bryan, a portfolio manager at Gabelli & Co. in Rye, New York, which owns Anglo American and AngloGold shares. “He’s someone that’s very focused on return on invested capital and he seems to have an open mind to doing things differently.”

Carroll, 56, is the first woman, external hire and non- South African to lead Anglo American. She held the job for about five years before the search for a replacement, which was led by chairman John Parker.

Anglo American and AngloGold officials declined to comment.

Violent Strikes

Cutifani, an Australian, became CEO of AngloGold in 2007, replacing Bobby Godsell. He was previously chief operating officer of Vale SA’s nickel-mining operations, and was managing director of Australian gold and tantalum miner Sons of Gwalia Ltd. until 2003. A mining engineer by training, Cutifani is also president of South Africa’s Chamber of Mines group.

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