Wrap Text
Changes to the Kumba Board: Kumba appoints Nompumelelo “Mpumi” Zikalala as Chief Executive Officer
Kumba Iron Ore Limited
A member of the Anglo American plc group
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)
(Registration number 2005/015852/06)
Share code: KIO
ISIN: ZAE000085346
(“Kumba”)
Changes to the Kumba Board: Kumba appoints Nompumelelo “Mpumi” Zikalala as Chief
Executive Officer
The Kumba Board has appointed Mpumi Zikalala as CEO. Mpumi, currently Managing Director
of De Beers Managed Operations, succeeds Themba Mkhwanazi who has been appointed CEO
of Anglo American’s global Bulk Commodities business following the decision of Seamus French
to leave the group after 14 years. Both appointments will take effect on 1 January 2022.
Commenting on Mpumi’s appointment, Terence Goodlace, Chairman of Kumba said: “I am
delighted that the Kumba Board has appointed Mpumi Zikalala as the new CEO of Kumba. Mpumi
will join the Kumba Board as an executive director and brings over 20 years of mining experience,
having started her career as a Chemical Engineering bursar at Anglo American and having held
a number of senior operational and commercial leadership roles at De Beers. Her appointment is
another demonstration of our commitment as a business towards nurturing and supporting the
success of women. We look forward to her leadership in advancing the strategic and operational
aspirations of Kumba”.
Mpumi Zikalala, said of her appointment: “It is a privilege to be appointed as CEO of Kumba. My
focus will be to build on Kumba’s strong safety and operational performance track record,
strengthening strategic partnerships and unlocking further value from the business. I look forward
to joining Kumba’s world class team and contributing to the next phase of Kumba’s journey to be
the most valued company in the eyes of our stakeholders."
Paying tribute to Seamus and Themba’s leadership, Terence said: ““On behalf of the Kumba
Board, we thank Seamus French for his insightful and valuable contributions and wish him all of
the very best in his future. We congratulate Themba Mkhwanazi and thank him for his enormous
contribution to Kumba over the last five years. Through his leadership of excellence and
collaboration with stakeholders, Themba successfully led the development and implementation
of the Tswelelopele strategy that has transformed the business and delivered significant value to
our wide range of stakeholders, not least our host communities. Themba will remain on the Kumba
Board as a non-executive director in his new role.”
Themba Mkhwanazi said: “I’m grateful for the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to Kumba
over the last five years and would like to thank each of Kumba’s employees, contractors and
members of the executive team for their commitment to Kumba’s success. My appreciation also
extends to the Kumba Board for their support and guidance. In the process of delivering our
strategic ambitions, the Kumba team has built a great business with exciting prospects. I wish
Mpumi well as she takes up the role as CEO. I also look forward to my new role and collaborating
with partners and stakeholders across Anglo American’s broader Bulk Commodities businesses.
My focus will continue to be on safe, responsible production and playing our role in our drive
towards cleaner steelmaking using our premium quality iron ore and met coal and working with
partners on new steelmaking technologies.”
Centurion
5 October 2021
Sponsor
RAND MERCHANT BANK (A division of FirstRand Bank Limited)
For further information, please contact:
Company Secretary
Fazila Patel
fazila.patel@angloamerican.com
Tel: +27 12 683 7060
Mobile: +27 83 297 2293
Investors Media
Penny Himlok Sinah Phochana
penny.himlok@angloamerican.com sinah.phochana@angloamerican.com
Tel: +27 12 622 8324 Tel: +27 12 683 7019
Mobile: +27 82 781 1888 Mobile: +27 76 066 0655
Notes to editors:
Mpumi Zikalala
Mpumi Zikalala, age 42, was appointed Managing Director of De Beers Managed Operations in
2019, with responsibility for De Beers operations in South Africa and Canada. Mpumi began her
career as a De Beers Group bursar and joined the company as a process engineer. She was
appointed General Manager at De Beers’ Kimberley Mines in 2007, becoming the company’s first
female General Manager. In 2010, she was appointed General Manager of Voorspoed mine and
later became Senior Vice-President of De Beers Sightholder Sales South Africa, the company
that sorts, values and sells all De Beers Group production in South Africa. In 2017, Mpumi was
appointed Deputy MD of De Beers Consolidated Mines.
Mpumi holds a BSc in chemical engineering from the University of the Witwatersrand, South
Africa. Mpumi currently serves as a Trustee at the University of Johannesburg Trust and is also
the Chairperson of the Private Sector Forum of SANAC (South African National AIDS Council).
She has previously served as a non-executive director of a number of organisations, including
the Black Management Forum and Mintek.
Themba Mkhwanazi
Themba Mkhwanazi, age 51, was appointed CEO of Kumba in 2016, having served as CEO of
Anglo American’s thermal coal business in South Africa since 2014. Prior to joining Anglo
American, Themba was Regional General Manager for Technology and Innovation for the
Americas for Rio Tinto, having also worked at Rio Tinto’s coal business in Australia and as COO
of Richards Bay Minerals, a joint venture between Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton in South Africa.
Themba serves as a non-executive director of Aspen Pharmacare Holdings Limited, is Chairman
of Mining Dialogues 360 and Vice President of the Minerals Council South Africa, where he also
chairs the CEO Zero Harm Forum. In his new role, Themba will continue to serve on the Kumba
Board, as a non-executive director. Mr Mkhwanazi holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) in
Chemical Engineering from Teesside University, UK.
www.angloamericankumba.com
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Date: 05-10-2021 08:00:00
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