Global explosives and chemicals company Orica has recruited highly regarded former Newcrest Mining executive Ian Smith as its new managing director.
Mr Smith will succeed Graeme Liebelt in February next year.
He was managing director of Newcrest, the world’s third largest gold miner, for a period of five years until early this year.
Before that, he worked for Rio Tinto, Comalco and WMC.
Mr Liebelt has led Orica for six years.
"The board is delighted to have secured the services of an experienced and successful chief executive to succeed Graeme," Orica chairman Peter Duncan said in a statement.
"The board believes that the industry experience, strategic capabilities and leadership skills that Ian has already demonstrated in leading an ASX-listed company, provide the credentials for him to drive Orica's global businesses into another period of dynamic growth."
Mr Smith said Orica had the potential to extend its leadership in the mining services industry at a time of unprecedented growth in the mining industry internationally.
Mr Liebelt said he was still very excited by the growth potential for Orica's businesses but wanted different career challenges after more than 20 years with Orica.
Mr Duncan said that Mr Liebelt had presided over significant growth at Orica, which included the acquisition of a large part of the Dyno Nobel explosives group.
Mr Liebelt had also overseen the demerger from Orica of the DuluxGroup paint business.
Shares in Orica were $1.39, or 5.77 per cent, higher at $25.49 on Monday.
