TORONTO – Barrick Mining Corp. says chief executive Mark Bristow has stepped down from the top job after nearly seven years.
The company said Monday its board has appointed Mark Hill as group chief operating officer and interim president and chief executive, effective immediately.
Hill joined Barrick in 2006 and had been responsible for the company’s operations in the Latin America and Asia Pacific regions.
Barrick said its board has started a process to find a permanent president and CEO.
“The board is committed to both finding the right leader to fully capitalize on Barrick’s world-class assets and capabilities, and to driving improved performance, growth and shareholder value,” Barrick chairman John Thornton said in a statement.
Bristow joined Barrick following its merger with Randgold in 2019 and led the integration of the two companies.
Thornton said Bristow strengthened the company’s portfolio and helped position it as a leading producer of gold and copper.
In announcing Bristow’s abrupt departure, Barrick said it continues to perform in line with its full-year expectations set out when it released its second-quarter results in August.
Barrick said in that report that it expected gold production for 2025 to come in between 3.15 million and 3.5 million ounces, while copper production was expected to be between 200,000 and 230,000 tonnes for the year.
The company took a US$1.04-billion charge in its second quarter related to its loss of control of a gold mine in Mali, but still reported a profit of US$811 million or 47 cents US per diluted share for the quarter ended June 30, up from US$370 million or 21 cents US per diluted share a year earlier.
A judge in Mali ordered Barrick’s Loulo-Gounkoto gold complex in June to be placed under provisional administration for six months in the ongoing dispute.
Barrick has been in conflict with Mali’s military rulers over alleged unpaid taxes and unfair contracts with past governments. The government suspended gold shipments, arrested four Barrick employees and issued an arrest warrant for Bristow last year.
In December, Barrick submitted a request for arbitration to the International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes to address disagreements with Mali concerning the mine complex.
Earlier this month, Barrick announced a deal to sell Hemlo, its only Canadian mine, to Carcetti Capital Corp. in an agreement worth up to US$1.09 billion.
The Hemlo mine, which has been operating for more than 30 years, is located in northern Ontario, about 35 kilometres east of the town of Marathon.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 29, 2025.
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