TORONTO (miningweekly.com) – Africa-focused gold project developer and miner Randgold Resources on Friday announced that chairperson Philippe Lietard would step down at the company’s next annual general meeting after serving in the position for ten years, and would be succeeded by Christopher Coleman, an independent nonexecutive director of Randgold since 2008.

Coleman is the head of banking and asset finance at Rothschild and sits on the board of Nasdaq-listed Papa Johns International. He is also an economics graduate of the London School of Economics.

"Philippe's passion for the business, his pursuit of excellence and his vision of a better future for Africa made him an inspirational role model for all at Randgold. His exceptional understanding of doing business in Africa, broad perspective and calm good sense helped to guide us safely through the many challenges Randgold has faced.

“We shall miss Philippe's presence on the board, but fortunately he has agreed to become the first chairperson of Nos Vies en Partage Foundation, the charitable foundation recently established by Randgold,” said CEO Mark Bristow.

ITH APPOINTMENTS

Meanwhile, International Tower Hill Mines (ITH), which is developing the Livengood gold project, in Alaska, has also announced that it has strengthened it board with the addition to the board of mining veterans  Stephen Lang and John Ellis, effective February 1. Lang had also been elected chairperson of the board.

Lang, who is a mining engineer with more than 30 years of experience and currently serves as Centerra Gold’s chairperson, as well as being a director of Allied Nevada Gold, had also previously held senior positions at Stillwater Mining, Barrick Gold, Rio Algom and Kinross Gold/Amax, where he worked with ITH’s current president and CEO Tom Irwin.

Lang had earned a Bachelor and Masters of Science in Mining Engineering from the University of Missouri-Rolla.

Ellis is a professional engineer with more than 50 years of experience in the mining industry.

He currently serves as a director of Mexivada Mining and Sunshine Silver Mines and is involved in consulting for a number of international mining companies. Ellis previously served as chairman and CEO of AngloGold North America and Hudson Bay Mining and Smelting. Before that, he held senior positions at Inspiration Resources, and CVRD-Inco.

His career has included service as a director on the Mining Association of Canada and the National Mining Association.

Ellis graduated from the Haileybury School of Mines and the Montana College of Science and Technology.

"We are pleased to strengthen our board and company with directors of such high calibre. Steve and John bring tremendous industry knowledge, experience and leadership that will be instrumental in advancing ITH into our next stage of development.

“Furthermore, Lang's qualifications, including his time at Kinross's Fort Knox gold mine, in Alaska, make him an ideal fit to chair our board as we optimise our Livengood gold project,” Irwin said.