Zug, 14 December 2009
Dr Con Fauconnier has been invited to join the Xstrata plc Board as an independent non-executive director and will be proposed by the Board for election by shareholders at the annual general meeting on 5 May 2010. Dr Fauconnier has agreed to act as an independent external consultant to the Board with effect from 1 February 2010 until the annual general meeting.
Dr Fauconnier worked for Anglo American Corporation, Gencor and JCI Limited prior to joining Iscor in 1995 as General Manager Business Development. He joined the Board of Iscor Ltd in 1997 and became Managing Director of Iscor Mining in 1999, before being appointed as Chief Executive of Kumba Resources Limited in 2001. In 2006, Eyesizwe Mining and the non-iron ore assets of Kumba Resources merged to form Exxaro Resources Limited, with Dr Fauconnier serving as chief executive officer of the newly formed company until his retirement in August 2007. He currently serves as an independent non-executive director on the boards of Namakwa Diamonds Ltd, a London-listed integrated diamond producer and Merafe Resources Ltd, a JSE-listed ferrochrome producer. He is also an Honorary Professor in the Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology of the University of Pretoria and a Fellow of the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS).
Dr Fauconnier served on the Executive Council of the Chamber of Mines of South Africa until November 2006 and was President from 2003 to 2005. He is a registered professional engineer and a Fellow of the South African Institute of Mining & Metallurgy, the Institute of Directors of Southern Africa and the South African Academy of Engineering and a Trustee of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), South Africa.
Willy Strothotte, Xstrata plc Chairman, said;
"We are delighted that Con Fauconnier has accepted our invitation to join the Board, subject to shareholders' approval. With his impressive background, outstanding reputation in South African mining, and academic credentials, the Board is confident that Con Fauconnier will make a significant contribution to Xstrata. On behalf of the Board I look forward to working with Con to achieve Xstrata's strategy of growth and diversification in pursuit of shareholder value."
Ends
Xstrata contacts:
Richard Elliston
Telephone 020 7968 2885
Mobile
07759 924 576
Email relliston@xstrata.com
Claire Divver
Telephone 020 7968 2871
Mobile
07785 964 340
Email cdivver@xstrata.com