4th OCTOBER 2023, LONDON - The World Gold Council announces the appointment of Neal Froneman, CEO of Sibanye-Stillwater, as its new Chair. Neal succeeds Randy Smallwood, President and CEO of Wheaton Precious Metals Corp, who served as Chair of the Board since 2020.
Neal has been the CEO and an Executive Director of Sibanye-Stillwater for over 10 years and brings over 40 years’ experience in the mining industry. Under his leadership, Sibanye-Stillwater has evolved from a South African gold producer to a multi-national diversified mining and processing business with assets and investments on five continents. It has also built a leading position in Platinum Group Metals recycling (circular economy) and tailings reprocessing.
In addition to Neal’s appointment, the World Gold Council welcomes Niël Pretorius, CEO at DRDGOLD, as a new Director of the Board. The appointments mark continued evolution and diversity of experience and industry contributions to the Board of the World Gold Council.
DRDGOLD produces gold through the large-scale retreatment of mine dumps and tailings dams. The removal of remnant mining residues not only restores the environment, but also frees up previously sterilised land for sustainable land use.
World Gold Council CEO, David Tait, commented: “I would like to thank Randy for his leadership of the Board over the last few years. Under his tenure, the World Gold Council has embarked on several new initiatives, from our transformational Gold247 programme to help digitalise the global gold industry, to bringing gold to the attention of millions of retail investors. I am grateful for his contributions and dedication as Chair.
“We welcome the appointment of Neal as the new Chairman. His wealth of experience in the industry will greatly benefit myself and the rest of the Board. I look forward to working with him in this new capacity, and to further our work to improve the gold market and demonstrate the valuable contribution responsible gold mining makes to the world and host communities.
“I am also delighted to welcome DRDGOLD to the World Gold Council and look forward to collaborating with them on our shared ambitions for the industry.”
Neal Froneman, CEO Sibanye-Stillwater and Chair of the Board, World Gold Council commented on his appointment: I am honored to have been appointed to Chair the Board of the World Gold Council, representing the leading gold producers globally. In a world of transition and change, the gold industry will need to be innovative and forward-thinking to remain relevant and I am looking forward to the challenge this poses.”
Niël Pretorius, CEO at DRDGOLD, commented: ““We are looking forward to being part of the World Gold Council, and drawing from the collective experience and knowledge of its members. We also hope to contribute to its efforts to promote gold and responsible mining practices.”
For further information please contact:
World Gold Council
Stephanie Cadman
E [email protected]
T +44 20 7826 4740
Website: www.gold.org
Sibanye-Stillwater contact:
James Wellsted
Executive Vice President: Investor Relations and Corporate Affairs
Email: [email protected]
Tel: +27 (0) 83 453 4014
Website: www.sibanyestillwater.com
DRDGOLD
R&A Strategic Communications
Jane Kamau
[email protected]
Note to editors
World Gold Council
We are a membership organisation that champions the role gold plays as a strategic asset, shaping the future of a responsible and accessible gold supply chain. Our team of experts builds understanding of the use case and possibilities of gold through research, analysis, commentary and insights.
We drive industry progress, shaping policy and setting the standards for a perpetual and sustainable gold market.
You can follow the World Gold Council on Twitter at @goldcouncil and LinkedIn.
Sibanye-Stillwater
Sibanye-Stillwater is a multinational mining and metals processing group with a diverse portfolio of operations, projects and investments across five continents. The Group is also one of the foremost global recyclers of PGM autocatalysts and has interests in leading mine tailings retreatment operations.
Sibanye-Stillwater has established itself as one of the world’s largest primary producers of platinum, palladium, and rhodium and is a top tier gold producer. It also produces and refines iridium and ruthenium, nickel, chrome, copper and cobalt. The Group has recently begun to build and diversify its asset portfolio into battery metals mining and processing and is increasing its presence in the circular economy by growing and diversifying its recycling and tailings reprocessing operations globally. For more information refer to www.sibanyestillwater.com.
DRDGOLD:
DRDGOLD Limited is a South African gold producer and a world leader in the recovery of the metal from the retreatment of surface tailings. DRDGOLD has a network of assets that is unrivalled in South Africa and, with its consolidated businesses operating as a single entity, is focused on optimising these assets in order to increase gold production.
