Top 10: Global Mining CEOs

The global mining industry is at a pivotal moment.

Demand for critical minerals is accelerating as energy transition, electrification and digital infrastructure gather pace, while miners face rising scrutiny around safety, sustainability, community impact and capital discipline. 

With this in mind, this week’s Top 10 highlights the CEOs steering the industry’s most influential players through volatility, transformation and long-term growth.

10. Gustavo Pimenta

Company: Vale
Market Cap: US$44bn
Took on Role: 2024

Gustavo has more than 20 years of global experience in finance, energy and mining. Working across Brazil, the US and Europe, Gustavo took over as the CEO of Vale in 2024. 

Prior to becoming CEO, Gustavo was EVP of Finance and Investor Relations for the mining company, responsible for procurement, energy and decarbonisation. 

Before joining Vale, Gustavo was an executive at AES for 12 years, as Global CFO, Director of Planning and Strategy and VP of Performance and Services. 

He also served as Vice President of Strategy and M&A at Citigroup in New York.

9. Gary Nagle

Company: Glencore
Market Cap: US$54bn
Took on Role: 2021

Experienced in commerce and accounting, Gary took on the role of CEO at Vale in 2024. 

Gary joined Glencore in 2000 in Switzerland as part of the Coal business development team, where he was heavily involved in seeding a portfolio of assets to Xstrata in 2002, in conjunction with its listing on the London Stock Exchange. 

For five years after, Gary worked in Columbia as CEO of Prodeco, moving to South Africa to be Head of Glencore's Ferroalloys assets in 2013. Following that, he was the Head of Glencore’s Coal Assets based in Australia. 

8. Germán Larrea Mota-Velasco

Company: Grupo México
Market Cap: US$61bn
Took on Role: 1994

Germán Larrea Mota-Velasco is the CEO and majority owner of Grupo México – one of the largest copper mining companies that operates in Mexico, Perú and the US.

Under his leadership, Grupo México expanded into the infrastructure and rail transportation sectors. In 2017, Germán spun off Grupo México's transport arm into a new company, GMexico Transportes, part-owned by two of Carlos Slim Helú's firms.

7. Mark Hill

Company: Barrick Gold
Market Cap: US$62bn
Took on Role: 2025

Mark is a seasoned executive in the mining industry with 30 years of experience. First joining Barrick in 2006, he was appointed Group COO and Interim President and Chief Executive Officer of Barrick in September 2025. 

Previously, Mark was responsible for the Latin America and Asia Pacific region.  He was also integral in the initial decision to undertake exploration at the Fourmile gold project in Nevada.

Mark is experienced in strategy, corporate development and leading major projects across the world.

6. Kathleen L. Quirk

Company: Freeport-McMoRan
Market Cap: US$62bn
Took on Role: 2021

Kathleen joined Freeport in 1989. She has been responsible for a broad range of corporate functions, including Tax, Investor Relations, Corporate Development and Treasury, before being named CFO in 2003. During her time as CFO she was named Best CFO in Metals and Mining by Extel on multiple occasions.

She was named President of Freeport in 2021 and became a member of the Board of Directors in 2023. As a senior member of the company’s executive team for more than 20 years, she has been instrumental in Freeport’s strategic planning and execution of company goals.

5. Ammar Al-Joundi

Company: Agnico Eagle Mines
Market Cap: US$72bn
Took on Role: 2022

Ammar took on the role of President and CEO of Agnico Eagle Mines Limited in 2022. Before this appointment, he was President of Agnico Eagle, as well as Senior Vice President and CFO.

Outside of Agnico Eagle, Ammar has held various executive positions at Barrick Gold Corporation and Citibank. 

Ammar is a graduate of Western University (M.B.A. (Honours)) and the University of Toronto (BASc (Mechanical Engineering)).

4. Natascha Viljoen

Company: Newmont
Market Cap: US$92bn
Took on Role: 2025

Natascha is President and Chief Executive Officer of Newmont Corporation, the world’s leading gold company, making her the first woman to lead Newmont in its more than 100-year history.

Since joining Newmont as COO in 2023, she has overseen all of the company’s operations, with a focus on integration of acquired assets, portfolio optimisation and talent development across the company’s global footprint.

Natascha has more than 30 years of international mining experience, holding senior leadership roles across multiple commodities and continents. Before joining Newmont, she served as CEO of Valterra. 

Natascha has also held leadership positions at Anglo American, BHP and Lonmin, earning a reputation for safety leadership, operational discipline and building high-performance teams.

3. Simon Trott

Company: Rio Tinto
Market Cap: US$99bn
Took on Role: 2025

Simon took on the role of CEO in August 2025 at Rio Tinto, having been on the executive committee since 2018. Most recently, he was Chief Executive of Iron Ore and Rio Tinto’s first Chief Commercial Officer.

Simon has more than 25 years of experience in operating, commercial and business development roles across a wide range of commodities and geographies, including Salt, Uranium, Borates and Diamonds. 

Simon is dedicated to shaping Rio Tinto’s next chapter to deliver new standards for operational excellence and value creation, creating sustainable growth.

2. Oscar Gonzalez Rocha

Company: Southern Copper Corporation
Market Cap: US$107bn
Took on Role: 1999

Oscar has held the role of CEO for the last two decades. He has dedicated almost 30 years of his career to Southern Copper Corporation since joining the company in 1999, holding several Director, President and CEO positions throughout the business. 

Oscar is a civil engineer with a degree from the Autonomous National University of Mexico and has been recognised as Copper Man of the Year in 2015.

1. Mike Henry

Company: BHP Group
Market Cap: US$119bn
Took on Role: 2020

Mike has more than 30 years of experience in the global mining and petroleum industry, spanning operational, commercial, safety, technology and marketing roles. 

Joining BHP in 2003, he has been an integral member of the executive leadership team since 2011. Mike has deep operational and market knowledge across a range of commodities and a strategic approach to resource and skills development to implement BHP’s strategy and future growth.

He is focused on creating a safe, high-performance culture, enabled by an inclusive workplace in which people are empowered at every level through the BHP operating system.