S32 executive takes top job with Sandfire

Sandfire Resources has found a new chief executive in South32’s Chief Human Resources and Commercial Officer Brendan Harris, who will move to the copper mid-tier in April 2023.

The South32 executive will replace Sandfire’s founder and long-serving chief executive Karl Simich, who announced his resignation in September after 15 years at the helm.

Mr Harris was South32’s first chief financial officer and has been dubbed a ‘key part’ of the miner’s journey by chief executive officer Graham Kerr since the company’s split from BHP in 2015.

The incoming chief executive’s most recent role was Chief Human Resources and Commercial Officer at South32 and previously served as BHP’s global head of investor relations. He has also held various investment banking roles.

Mr Harris said he looked forward to leading the Sandfire team.

“I feel incredibly privileged to be joining Sandfire at such an exciting time in its evolution as a global copper producer,” he said.

“With the MATSA Copper Operations in Spain and the Motheo Copper Mine in Botswana providing the foundation to grow copper production safely and responsibly as demand benefits from the electrification of the global economy.”

Mr Harris is set to start his new role as managing director and chief executive officer with Sandfire on April 3 2023.

Acting chief executive Jason Grace will continue to lead Sandfire in the interim.

Sandfire non-executive chair John Richards said the board was delighted to secure a new CEO in what he described as an ‘extremely competitive market for talent.’

“Brendan impressed us with his broad range of skills and his vision for Sandfire to be a safe and sustainability-focused, global copper mining company that is well positioned to meet the needs of a rapidly growing market,” he said.

“Importantly, Brendan shares the Board’s views on Sandfire’s strategy for continued, profitable growth and has well-developed ideas on the implementation of that strategy.”

On the market, Sandfire shares were up 4.88 per cent to trade at $4.19.