Top 10: Mining Leaders in the UKI

While the UK and Ireland are neither significant producers of mineral resources in their own right, London, in particular, sits at the centre of international mining capital markets. The London Stock Exchange remains the listing venue of choice for more major mining companies than any other exchange. 

Ireland's contribution, though smaller in scale, is no less real. Dublin-listed and Irish-headquartered operators have established a strong presence in African mineral sands and beyond.

Together, the UKI mining community finances, lists and governs the companies that produce the commodities the global economy depends on. In an era defined by critical mineral scarcity, financial leverage is more consequential than ever. The ten executives profiled here are the individuals best positioned to direct it.

10. Sean Gilbertson

CEO – Gemfields Group
Founded: 2006
HQ: London, UK
Operations: Emeralds, rubies

Sean Gilbertson has led Gemfields Group since 2018, having previously been a co-founder of the Pallinghurst Group in 2005 and the architect of its coloured gemstone strategy from 2006. He trained as a mining engineer at the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa and subsequently worked as a project financier at Deutsche Bank in Frankfurt and London. 

In 1998, he co-founded globalCOAL, which was later acquired by a consortium that included Anglo American, BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto. He was also co-founder of the Spectron eMetals trading platform for the London Metal Exchange.

The company's two primary assets are the Kagem emerald mine in Zambia and the Montepuez ruby deposit in Mozambique, both of which sell production through a regular auction programme. Sean has focused on introducing pricing transparency and chain-of-custody documentation to a sector where these have historically been absent. 

9. Tom Hickey

CEO – Kenmare Resources
Founded: 1972
HQ: Dublin, Ireland
Operations: Titanium minerals

Tom Hickey was appointed Managing Director of Kenmare Resources in August 2024, having joined the company as Finance Director in September 2022. A commerce graduate of University College Dublin, he trained as an accountant at Arthur Andersen before moving into corporate finance at ABN Amro's Riada Stockbrokers, where he advised natural resources clients. 

An Irish-listed mineral sands producer that operates the Moma Titanium Minerals Mine on the northern coast of Mozambique. The mine produces ilmenite, zircon and rutile, which are sold to manufacturers of titanium dioxide pigment and other industrial end-users. Tom oversaw the completion of a significant capacity expansion at Moma, increasing annual production throughput. Kenmare is one of the largest producers of titanium feedstock globally by volume. 

8. Eduardo Navarro

CEO – Hochschild Mining
Founded: 1911
HQ: London, UK
Operations: Silver, gold

Eduardo Navarro, became CEO of Hochschild Mining in August 2023, having joined the company in 2008 as General Manager of Argentinian operations. He previously served as COO from March 2013, overseeing the development of the Inmaculada and Crespo projects. 

He holds an engineering degree from Imperial College London and an MBA from the University of Piura, Peru, and is a Chartered Engineer and Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. 

The company's core assets are the Inmaculada and Pallancata silver-gold mines in Peru, with additional projects at earlier stages of development. Eduardo has worked to reduce the company's exposure to Peruvian regulatory and political risk through portfolio diversification, while managing costs at existing operations. 

7. Shaun Day

CEO – Greatland Gold
Founded: 2006 (GGP plc)
HQ: Subiaco, Western Australia
Operations: Gold, copper

Shaun Day was appointed CEO of Greatland Gold in February 2021, having previously served as CFO of Northern Star Resources. 

Before that, he spent five years as CFO of Sakari Resources, a Singapore-listed Indonesian coal group. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Western Australia and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and the Financial Services Institute of Australasia. 

Under his leadership, Greatland completed the acquisition of the Telfer gold-copper mine and the adjacent Havieron development project from Newmont Corporation in December 2024, transitioning the company from a junior explorer into an operating producer. 

Greatland is listed on AIM in London and completed a dual listing on the ASX in 2025. Its operations are located in the Paterson Province of Western Australia.

6. Ian Cockerill

CEO – Endeavour Mining
Founded: 2002
HQ: London, UK
Operations: Gold

Ian Cockerill was appointed CEO of Endeavour Mining in 2023, following the departure of the company's founder. He previously served as CEO of Gold Fields and has held senior operational roles across the African gold sector. 

Endeavour operates a portfolio of gold mines in West Africa, with assets in Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, Mali and Burkina Faso. The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange and the Toronto Stock Exchange. 

Born in Cheshire, Ian holds a BSc in Geology from London University, an MSc in Mineral Production Management from the Royal School of Mines and completed the Advanced Management Programme at Templeton College, Oxford.

He began his mining career in South Africa in 1975, subsequently rising through De Beers and Anglo American before serving as CEO of Gold Fields from 1998 to 2008.

5. Octavio Alvídrez

CEO – Fresnillo
Founded: 2008
HQ: London
Operations: Silver, gold

Octavio Alvídrez has served as CEO of Fresnillo since 2014, leading the company through a period of declining ore grades at its mature Mexican mines and a major investment cycle in new production capacity. 

Fresnillo is the world's largest primary silver producer by output and a significant gold producer. Its mines are located across several Mexican states, including the flagship Fresnillo and Saucito operations in Zacatecas. 

Octavio holds a degree in mining engineering from the University of Guanajuato and an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. 

4. Alberto Calderon

CEO – AngloGold Ashanti
Founded: 1998
HQ: London, UK
Operations: Gold

Alberto Calderon became CEO of AngloGold Ashanti in September 2021, having previously held senior roles at BHP, Orica and Ecopetrol. During his tenure, AngloGold Ashanti completed a corporate restructuring that moved its primary listing from Johannesburg to the New York Stock Exchange and redomiciled the company to the United Kingdom. 

The company operates gold mines across Africa, the Americas and Australia. Calderon has focused on reducing costs, extending reserve life and rationalising the asset portfolio. 

3. Iván Arriagada

CEO – Antofagasta
Founded: 1888
HQ: London, UK
Operations: Copper

Iván Arriagada has been CEO of Antofagasta since 2014, overseeing a Chilean copper mining group that is listed in London but controlled by the Luksic family. The company operates four copper mines in Chile – Los Pelambres, Centinela, Antucoya and Zaldívar – with combined output placing it among the larger copper producers globally. 

Iván is a Chilean national and holds an MSc in Finance from the London School of Economics and a business degree from Universidad Federico Santa María in Chile. Before joining Antofagasta, he served as CFO of Codelco, the Chilean state copper company, and held several senior roles at BHP Billiton, including President of Pampa Norte and CFO of the Base Metals division. 

Earlier in his career, he spent nearly two decades at Royal Dutch Shell, with postings in the UK, Argentina and the United States. 

2. Duncan Wanblad

CEO – Anglo American
Founded: 1917
HQ: London, UK
Operations: Copper, PGMs, premium iron ore, metallurgical coal, nickel and manganese

Duncan Wanblad became CEO of Anglo American in 2022, having spent his career at the company across a range of operational and technical roles. 

In 2024, Anglo American received and rejected a takeover approach from BHP; instead, Duncan announced a restructuring plan to separate Anglo American Platinum and Kumba Iron Ore from the group and exit steelmaking coal, to concentrate the portfolio on copper and iron ore.

Duncan joined Anglo American in 1990 and spent his entire career at the company, holding positions including CEO of Copper, CEO of Base Metals and Group Director of Strategy and Business Development.

1. Simon Trott

CEO – Rio Tinto
Founded: 1873
HQ: London, UK
Operations: Iron ore, copper, aluminium, lithium

Simon Trott was appointed CEO of Rio Tinto in early 2025, succeeding Jakob Stausholm. He had previously run Rio Tinto's iron ore division, the group's largest earnings contributor, which operates from the Pilbara region of Western Australia. 

An Australian national, he holds a BSc in Resource Economics from the University of Western Australia and an MBA from IMD Business School in Switzerland. He joined Rio Tinto in 2000 and held a range of commercial, operational and business development roles.

Rio Tinto is one of the two largest mining companies by market capitalisation globally, with a dual listing on the London and Sydney stock exchanges. 

Its portfolio spans iron ore, copper, aluminium, lithium and other industrial minerals, with operations across six continents. Key development projects include the Simandou iron ore project in Guinea and the Jadar lithium project in Serbia, both of which are subject to ongoing regulatory and logistical work.