Vedanta Resources announced on September 14 it has appointed Chris Griffith, former CEO of Gold Fields and Anglo American Plc executive, as the CEO of its Base Metals unit in Africa and the president of its international operations. The appointment will be effective from October 2, 2023, the Anil Agarwal-led conglomerate said.

Griffith resigned from Gold Fields in December 2022 after the company failed to take over Canadian firm Yamana Gold Inc. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mining engineering from the University of Pretoria.

Before Gold Fields, Chris served as the CEO of two major businesses at global mining major, Anglo American – Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) and Kumba Iron Ore. At Amplats, he was behind a phenomenal improvement in operational performance, increasing EBITDA by 1500% during his tenure. At Kumba, the fourth largest iron ore company in the world, he was responsible for a big ramp up in production ahead of schedule. Revenue increased by 127% during his stint as CEO, Vedanta Resources said in a release.

Griffith will be in charge of Vedanta Resources’ iron ore business in Liberia, zinc business in Namibia and South Africa, and all the copper businesses, including Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) in Zambia, Sterlite Copper in India, and Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

“In his new role as CEO for Base Metals, Chris Griffith will assume responsibility for steering both the Vedanta Zinc International and Vedanta Copper businesses, including operations at Konkola Copper Mines in Zambia as well as oversight for the downstream processing businesses of the company across India and the Middle East. As President International, Chris will be part of the broader strategic leadership for the company and will provide guidance for Vedanta’s operations outside India, including the Iron ore business in Liberia,” the company said in a statement.

Also read: Vedanta jumps after regaining a mine from Zambian government

“I am excited to take on this new role at Vedanta. I look 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. Together, we will deliver value to all our stakeholders in different geographies,” Griffith said on his appointment.

Welcoming Griffith to Vedanta, Anil Agarwal, Chairperson, Vedanta Group, added,“ His (Griffith’s) extensive experience in the mining industry and leadership record at Gold Fields, Anglo American Platinum, and Kumba Iron Ore make him an invaluable addition to our team, especially as we embark on an exciting growth phase in our copper business with the return of KCM to our portfolio.”

“Chris’s growth mindset, along with a strong commitment to sustainability, aligns perfectly with Vedanta’s core values,” he said.

Notably, Griffith used to lead the iron-ore and platinum operations of Anglo American Plc, where Anil Agarwal had once been the largest shareholder.