Anglo American chief executive to step down

After six years in post, Cynthia Carroll says time is right to hand over to a successor

ANGLO American plc have announced that Cynthia Carroll has decided to step down as chief executive, with the Board’s agreement. She will remain in post until a successor has been appointed and an appropriate transition has taken place.

Cynthia Carroll was appointed to the Anglo American Board in January 2007 and formally took over as chief executive in March of that year.

Explaining her decision to step down, Cynthia said: ‘It’s a very difficult decision to leave, but next year I will be entering my seventh year as chief executive and I feel that the time will be right to hand over to a successor who can build further on the strong foundations we have created.’

Paying tribute to her, Anglo American’s chairman, Sir John Parker, said: ‘Cynthia’s leadership has had a transformational impact on Anglo American. She developed a clear strategy, based on a highly attractive range of core commodities, and created a strong and unified culture and a streamlined organization with a focus on operational performance.

‘Her legacy will include, among many other things, a step change improvement in safety, sustainability and the quality of our dialogue with governments, communities and other stakeholders.

‘The Board is enormously grateful to Cynthia for her dedication, her hard work and all she has achieved. We also very much appreciate her willingness to continue as chief executive until a successor can be appointed.’

In addition to her executive role, Cynthia Carroll is the chairman of Anglo American Platinum and of De Beers and she will also relinquish these roles when she steps down as chief executive of Anglo American.