This week’s Talent Tuesday sees the appointment of Paul Graves as independent non-executive director of AngloGold Ashanti (NYSE:AU), effective 1 October 2026.
Graves brings more than 30 years of experience in global natural resources, finance, and corporate leadership. He most recently served as CEO of Rio Tinto Lithium, following Rio’s early 2025 acquisition of Arcadium Lithium where he was president and CEO. Rio Tinto Lithium is a subsidiary of Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO).
He was also president and CEO of Livent, which merged with Allkem in late 2023 to form Arcadium Lithium, and executive VP and CFO of FMC Corporation (NYSE:FMC).
AngloGold Ashanti is a global gold mining company with a portfolio of operations, projects, and exploration activities across 10 countries on four continents.
Jonathan Beigle to advance rare earths strategy
Search Minerals (TSX-V:SMY) has announced the appointment of Jonathan Beigle as CEO and director, effective from 25 September 2026.
Beigle has most recently been president and CEO of Ridgeline Royalties, a critical minerals royalty company he founded in 2020.
He has also spent time on Newmont’s (NYSE:NEM) inverter relations team and has served 11 years at Manning & Napier Advisors, an institutional investment firm with up to C$55 billion ($55.3 billion) in assets under management.
In this role with Search Minerals, Beigle will assist with the advancement of Foxtrot, Deep Fox, and the broader Port Hope Simpson – St. Lewis CREE District, which he describes as “one of the most compelling rare earth opportunities in North America”.
Paul Brink succeeds Neal Froneman as World Gold Council Chair
The World Gold Council (WGC) has appointed Paul Brink as its new chair, succeeding Neal Froneman who has now completed his term.
Brink is president and CEO of Franco-Nevada (TSX:FNV), having stepped into the role in 2020. Prior to this, he was head of business development from the company’s IPO in 2007 until then.
Speaking on his appointment, Brink says that he’s honoured to represent the WGC at a time when gold’s relevance is clear.
“I would like to commend Neal for his role in advancing the Consolidated Mining Standard Initiative, which will help strengthen trust, transparency, and accountability across our industry,” Brink says.
“During his tenure, the council’s pivotal role in engaging with central banks was evident in robust growth in official sector gold holdings, underscoring gold’s enduring role as a strategic reserve asset.
“Under his leadership, the council has advanced its gold digitalisation program, both to broaden access to gold and to support the long-term strength and integrity of the market.”
Ben Chalmers named MAC President, succeeding Pierre Gratton
The Mining Association of Canada (MAC) has announced Ben Chalmers as its new president and CEO, effective 1 January 2027. He succeeds Pierre Gratton who is retiring after 15 years in the role.
Chalmers has been at MAC since 2011 and has been largely responsible for the association’s Towards Sustainable Mining (TSM) initiative, as well as running its public affairs, communications, and government relations work.
The TSM initiative is the culmination of the association’s work on sustainable mining. Established in 2004, the TSM works to ensure that mining companies are able to meet society’s needs for metals and minerals in the most socially, economically, and environmentally-responsible manner.
The TSM also provides tools to ensure that key mining risks are managed responsibly, working across communities and people, environmental stewardship, and energy efficiency.
Participation in TSM is mandatory for all members of MAC, ensuring that Canada’s mining industry is run in a sustainable manner. Since its induction with MAC, the TSM has been adopted by mining associations across six continents.
Write to Amy Rotman at Mining.com.au
Main image: Bloomberg
