Ivanhoe Mines (TSX:IVN) has made several board changes, including COO Mark Farren transitioning into a strategic advisor role, and senior executive of operations Tom van den Berg being appointed COO, effective from 2026.
Farren has held various key operational positions for more than 10 years within the company. In his capacity as strategic advisor, Farren will continue to support the delivery of Ivanhoe’s next phase of organic growth including the phase two expansion and development of the Western Forelands Project.
Van de Berg (pictured below) will also remain at the Kamoa-Kakula Project for an interim period to oversee the ongoing operational recovery and turnaround strategy. He has 37 years of mining and mine development experience across Southern Africa, spanning numerous roles at Sibanye-Stillwater (JSE:SSW), Harmony Gold (JSE:HAR), and Anglo American (LSE:AAL).
Ivanhoe Mines, which has a market capitalisation of C$19.5 billion ($21.3 billion), plans to issue Kamoa-Kakula’s 2026 and 2027 copper production from next week.
Ivanhoe Mines Executive Co-Chair Robert Friedland says the next chapters of the company’s growth “are going to be nothing short of extraordinary, and we are positioned well following the appointments of Tom van den Berg, Mark Farren, and Nick Popovic”.
“I couldn’t be more energised and excited about what is yet to come. I also extend my sincere thanks to Manfu Ma for his wisdom, support, and unwavering dedication in shaping the development of the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex, and in the process building Ivanhoe Mines into a world-class company with now three operating mines,” says Friedland.
Since joining the board in 2019, Friedland says Ma has been instrumental in Kamoa-Kakula’s three phases, each of which were delivered ahead of schedule.
Ivanhoe has also appointed Nick Popovic as a strategic advisor, amid Manfu Ma stepping down from the board.
Popovic brings an abundance of knowledge from over three decades with Glencore (LSE:GLEN). He will advise the company in terms of commercial and operational matters, as well as growth strategy.
Ivanhoe Mines is a Canadian miner focused on advancing three projects in Southern Africa.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: Ivanhoe Mines
