• Eramet ended the mandate of CEO Paulo Castellari and appointed Chair Christel Bories as interim chief executive.

• The board cited differences over working methods, not group performance, and said strategy remains unchanged.

• Eramet continues to focus on manganese in Gabon and mineral sands in Senegal amid a broader turnaround plan.

In a statement published on February 1, Eramet announced the end of its collaboration with Paulo Castellari, who had served as chief executive since 2025. To manage the transition, the board appointed Chair Christel Bories as interim chief executive, pending the appointment of a new CEO following a selection process.

“The Eramet board of directors, which met on Sunday, February 1, decided to terminate the mandate of its chief executive officer, Paulo Castellari, due to differences regarding working methods,” the statement said. “The board appointed its chair, Christel Bories, as interim chief executive officer of the group, for the time required to conduct the process to appoint a new CEO.”

Eramet did not initially disclose detailed reasons for Castellari’s departure. However, Christel Bories provided clarification during a conference call held after the board meeting. She said the decision reflected “differences in working methods” rather than issues related to group performance. She also said Eramet’s strategy “remains unchanged,” according to comments reported by Reuters.

This reassurance carries particular weight given the reforms recently launched under Castellari’s leadership. In December, Eramet announced a turnaround plan aimed at improving performance after the group posted a 10% drop in revenue in the third quarter of 2025. The plan includes the modernization of the Transgabonais railway network, whose logistical constraints have affected the transport of manganese ore from Eramet’s operations in Gabon.

Investors now await clarity on how the group will execute this strategy under Bories’ interim leadership and later under a permanent CEO. Beyond Gabon, Eramet maintains operations in Senegal through mineral sands mining. Outside Africa, the group produces nickel in Indonesia and lithium in Argentina.

This article was initially published in French by Aurel Sèdjro Houenou

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de BERRY QUENUM