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Kathleen Quirk

Kathleen Quirk is president and chief executive of Freeport-McMoRan, the Phoenix-based company that is the world's largest publicly traded copper producer. She joined Freeport in 1989 and rose through the organisation, serving as chief financial officer from 2003 and president from 2021, before becoming CEO in June 2024, succeeding Richard Adkerson, who remains chairperson. Quirk oversees Freeport's global mining operations across the United States, Chile, Peru and Indonesia, including the Grasberg mine in Papua, the world's second-largest copper mine and largest gold mine, in which Freeport holds a minority stake alongside majority Indonesian government ownership. She has led the company through the fallout of a fatal mudflow at Grasberg in September 2025 that killed seven workers and halted production, managing the phased restart and revised production forecasts through 2026 and 2027. Quirk regularly addresses investors and media on copper demand tied to electrification, artificial intelligence and power infrastructure, US tariff policy on copper imports, and Freeport's strategy of pursuing organic growth and leaching technology over mergers and acquisitions. She has also engaged with the US government on incentives and permitting reform to support domestic copper production. Quirk is a recurring voice in global copper market commentary given Freeport's scale and her central role in the company's strategic and operational decisions.

Kathleen Quirk News


An autonomous truck in operation at the Bagdad mine
Freeport approves $4.5bn expansion, modernisation of Arizona copper project
5th November 2026 By: Chanel de Bruyn

Metals company Freeport McMoRan's board has approved a $4.5-billion expansion and modernisation programme for its Bagdad copper and molybdenum operation, in northwest Arizona, in the US. "We are... 


Safford copper mine
Freeport bets on chemical solution to reach copper leaching target
19th October 2026 By: Reuters

Freeport-McMoRan is betting a new chemical compound can help it reach an ambitious target of extracting 800-million pounds of copper from waste rock each year and expand production beyond... 


The Grasberg mine
Freeport says Grasberg recovery not delayed until 2028, stands by 2027 forecast
12th May 2026 By: Reuters

Freeport-McMoRan said on Monday that it still expects Indonesia's Grasberg copper and gold mine to resume full production by the end of 2027, reiterating a plan outlined last month and pushing back... 


The Grasberg mine
Freeport delays recovery of flagship Indonesian mine; shares down more than 8%
23rd April 2026 By: Reuters

Freeport-McMoRan, the world's largest publicly traded copper producer, said on Thursday it expects a slower-than-anticipated recovery at its flagship Grasberg mine in Indonesia after a fatal flood... 


Freeport-McMoRan confident in copper demand despite Iran conflict, CEO says
Freeport-McMoRan confident in copper demand despite Iran conflict, CEO says
24th March 2026 By: Reuters

Freeport-McMoRan expects demand for copper for use in electrification, data centers and other high-tech areas to remain resilient despite market jitters tied to the Iran conflict, CEO Kathleen... 


Rising copper prices help Freeport-McMoRan offset Grasberg production dip
Rising copper prices help Freeport-McMoRan offset Grasberg production dip
23rd January 2026 By: Reuters

Copper miner Freeport-McMoRan reported a better-than-expected fourth-quarter profit on Thursday, as higher copper and gold prices offset a production drop after an accident at Indonesia's Grasberg... 


Copper producer Freeport would pursue M&A only if 'stars and moon' align, CEO says
Copper producer Freeport would pursue M&A only if 'stars and moon' align, CEO says
5th December 2025 By: Reuters

Copper producer Freeport-McMoRan would pursue an acquisition if "the stars and the moon" aligned, but is not counting on deals to grow and is focused on developing existing assets, its CEO said on... 


After deadly accident, Freeport aims to restart Grasberg copper production by July
After deadly accident, Freeport aims to restart Grasberg copper production by July
19th November 2025 By: Reuters

Freeport-McMoRan said on Tuesday it plans to restore production at Indonesia's Grasberg copper and gold mine by July after a fatal incident forced operations to halt two months ago. Seven workers... 


Freeport names new COO of Americas operations
6th November 2025 By: Creamer Media Reporter

Copper miner Freeport-McMoRan has appointed Cory Stevens as president and COO of Freeport Americas, effective December 1. Stevens, who joined Freeport in 1997, has held various leadership roles... 


Freeport still searching for 7 missing workers at Grasberg
Freeport still searching for 7 missing workers at Grasberg
12th September 2025 By: Mariaan Webb

Freeport-McMoRan said on Friday its Indonesian unit was continuing around-the-clock efforts to locate seven missing contractors after a mudflow blocked access routes at its Grasberg block cave mine... 


Kathleen Quirk
Freeport-McMoRan still waiting for US copper tariff details, CEO says
23rd July 2025 By: Reuters

Freeport-McMoRan has yet to see details of US President Donald Trump's plan to impose a 50% tariff on copper imports starting next week, its CEO said on Wednesday after the mining company posted... 


Kathleen Quirk: Big tariffs and trade wars make us concerned for global copper demand.
Freeport CEO says tariffs threaten to hinder US copper mining
10th June 2025 By: Bloomberg

The threat of US levies on copper imports has been a boon for Freeport-McMoRan, with North America’s top producer cashing in on selling the metal at a premium. Still, the firm’s top boss warns that... 


Anglo American urges faster permits in Chile to close copper supply gap
Anglo American urges faster permits in Chile to close copper supply gap
9th April 2025 By: Reuters

hile needs to speed up its permitting processes to help copper mining expand ahead of a large supply gap expected in the coming years, Anglo American Chile CEO Patricio Hidalgo said on Tuesday.... 


Freeport-McMoRan CEO flags concern over global growth amid US tariffs
8th April 2025 By: Reuters

The CEO of copper producer Freeport-McMoRan said on Monday she was concerned about the health of the global economy and the possibility of recession and inflation in the wake of US tariffs rolled... 


The Morenci copper mine
An American mine still has millions of tons of copper, if companies can get to it
2nd April 2025 By: Bloomberg

Carved into a mountain range in Arizona’s Sonoran Desert, where temperatures often reach 118F (48C), a vast mining complex more than a century old is on the front lines of a race to unlock millions... 


Freeport-McMoRan hopes Trump declares copper a critical mineral
Freeport-McMoRan hopes Trump declares copper a critical mineral
11th March 2025 By: Reuters

Freeport-McMoRan hopes US President Donald Trump declares copper a critical mineral, a move that would unlock tax credits needed to boost American production of the red metal and offset global... 


US buyers face higher costs if Trump pursues copper, aluminium tariffs
29th January 2025 By: Reuters

President Donald Trump's threat to impose tariffs on US copper and aluminium imports will result in higher costs for local consumers because of a shortfall in domestic production, analysts and... 


Freeport targets low-cost copper gains with leaching technologies
Freeport targets low-cost copper gains with leaching technologies
27th January 2025 By: Mariaan Webb

US-based copper and molybdenum miner Freeport-McMoRan is making steady progress with its technology-driven leaching initiatives across its North and South American mines, unlocking significant... 


Grasberg is the world's second-biggest copper mine
Freeport-McMoRan's copper production slips in Indonesia; shares fall
24th January 2025 By: Reuters

Copper miner Freeport-McMoRan posted a drop in fourth-quarter production on Thursday and said that its costs would rise more than expected this year, sending the company's shares down more than... 


Freeport's Grasberg mine
Freeport-McMoRan sees data centers boosting copper demand, beats Q3 results estimates
23rd October 2024 By: Reuters

Freeport-McMoRan said on Tuesday that demand for copper is expected to increase with more data centers being built, and the miner reported a better-than-expected quarterly profit as higher prices... 


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pqt: 0.072s - ct: 0.122s - 275pq - 2rq
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