Vedanta Resources has announced the appointment of Chris Griffith, former CEO of Gold Fields, one of the largest producers of gold in the world, as the Chief Executive Officer for Base Metals and president of its International Businesses, effective October 2nd, 2023.
He will be leading the Group’s international zinc business in South Africa and Namibia, its iron ore business in Liberia, and the entire copper portfolio including KCM, Zambia, Fujairah, UAE, and Sterlite Copper in India.
Before Gold Fields, Chris served as the CEO of two major businesses at global mining major, Anglo American – Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) and Kumba Iron Ore.
At Amplats, he was behind a phenomenal improvement in operational performance, increasing EBITDA by 1500% during his tenure.
At Kumba, the fourth largest iron ore company in the world, he was responsible for a big ramp up in production ahead of schedule. Revenue increased by 127% during his stint as CEO.
Announcing the appointment, Anil Agarwal, Chairman, Vedanta Group said, “We are delighted to welcome Chris Griffith to Vedanta as the CEO for Base Metals & President International. His extensive experience in the mining industry and leadership track record at Gold Fields, Angloplats and Kumba make him an invaluable addition to our team especially as we embark on an exciting growth phase in our copper business with the return of KCM to our portfolio.”
“Chris’s growth mindset along with a strong commitment to sustainability aligns perfectly with Vedanta’s core values”, Anil Agarwal added.
In his new role as CEO for Base Metals, Chris Griffith will assume responsibility for steering both the Vedanta Zinc International and Vedanta Copper businesses, including operations at Konkola Copper Mines in Zambia as well as oversight for the downstream processing businesses of the company across India and the Middle East.
As President International, Chris will be part of the broader strategic leadership for the company and will provide guidance for Vedanta’s operations outside India, including the Iron ore business in Liberia.
Speaking on his appointment, Chris Griffith said, “I am excited to take on this new role at Vedanta, one of the world’s most exciting and fast-growing mining and metals companies.”
“I look forward to driving innovation, operational efficiency, and sustainable growth to Vedanta’s Base Metals businesses, creating KCM as a cornerstone asset for the company, and growing the group internationally. Together, we will deliver value to all our stakeholders in different geographies”, Chris Griffith added.
Chris holds a bachelor’s degree in mining engineering from the University of Pretoria.
