TORONTO (miningweekly.com) – TSX-listed Katanga Mining has appointed COO John Ross to the position of CEO, effective January 4.

Ross replaces Steven Isaacs who stepped into the post on an interim basis in October, following the resignation four months earlier of Arthur Ditto.

Isaacs, who was seconded from shareholder Glencore, will remain as a non-executive director, Katanga said.

During his tenure as interim CEO, Isaacs oversaw a $250-million rights offering, the amendment of its Kamoto Copper Company Joint Venture Agreement with La Generale des Carrieres et des Mines, the implementation of cost cutting initiatives since the beginning of 2009 and the acceleration of the ramp-up of the company's project in the Katanga province in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Ross originally joined Katanga in May 2008 to oversee metallurgical operations and project integration.

His experience includes time with Rio Tinto in South Africa and the US, Port Kembla Copper in Australia and, more recently, with Glencore International companies at Mopani Copper Mines in Zambia and Mutanda y Mukonkota Sprl in the DRC.

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