• Mark Bristow, who led Randgold before its 2019 merger with Barrick, has stepped down with immediate effect.

• The board has yet to name a permanent successor, appointing Mark Hill as interim deputy CEO.

• The resignation comes amid tensions with Mali’s government over the Loulo-Gounkoto mine, which produced 15% of Barrick’s output in 2024.

Barrick Gold Corp. announced Monday that Chief Executive Officer Mark Bristow has resigned with immediate effect, ending a tenure that reshaped the world’s second-largest gold producer. The South African mining veteran, who ran Randgold Resources before its 2019 merger with Barrick, had previously said he would remain in the role until 2028.

The board said it has not yet chosen a permanent successor. Mark Hill, Barrick’s head of Latin America and Asia-Pacific, will serve as interim deputy CEO.

Chairman John Thornton stated that Mark strengthened Barrick's portfolio and positioned it as a leading gold and copper producer during his tenure, further adding that the company is well-placed to enter its next phase of growth and value creation.

Bristow, 66, spent more than two decades building Randgold into a major African miner before orchestrating its merger with Barrick. His leadership expanded Barrick’s African footprint and secured its position as a top global producer with operations across Africa, the Americas and Oceania.

The resignation coincides with a high-profile dispute between Barrick and Mali’s government over the Loulo-Gounkoto mine. The site, which accounted for about 15% of Barrick’s 2024 gold output, was shut earlier this year before being reopened under court-appointed administration.

Barrick also operates the Kibali mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Tongon mine in Côte d’Ivoire, and the Bulyanhulu and North Mara mines in Tanzania. Globally, the company targets production of 3.15 to 3.5 million ounces of gold in 2025.

This article was initially published in French by Emiliano Tossou

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum