Gary Halverson, a former Timmins mine manager and Sudbury native, was named the new president and chief operating officer of Cliffs Natural Resources.
The 55-year-old Halverson officially takes control of the Ohio mining giant on Nov. 18. He replaces Joseph Carrabba who is retiring on Nov. 15.
Halverson, who was serving as the interim COO of Barrick Gold, will report to James Kirsch, the executive chairman of the board.
Halverson served with Kinross Gold Corporation from 2000 to 2004 where he held general manager roles at the Hoyle Pond Mine and Placer Dome Mine, and was responsible for consolidating the assets of the two mines.
In an Oct. 25 release, the company said in the coming months Halverson will focus on refining the company's long-term strategy while building "a deep understanding of the business at an operating level before assuming the CEO leadership position.”
Cliffs said Halverson has worked in the gold, copper, and nickel mining industries, and has managed large annual operating budgets and capital projects. At an operational level, he's had success running mines, troubleshooting, and completing projects on-time and on budget such as complex tailings and water management issues. These experiences include a wide range of underground and open-pit mines from the construction and development phases through the end-of-life stage.
At Barrick, Halverson was named interim chief operating officer this year and was also Barrick's regional president for North America.
"I am very pleased that Gary is joining Cliffs as he brings over 30 years of mining experience and a breadth of leadership skills well suited to lead our business,” said Kirsch. “Gary's leadership experience in operating mines across Canada, the U.S. and Asia Pacific, coupled with his large-scale project execution track record and cultural fit, made him a compelling choice based on the board's expectations for Cliffs' performance.
"As a global mining executive, Gary has a proven track record and possesses deep technical and operational expertise. His financial discipline lines up well with our focus on cost management and the major investment decisions that are on the horizon. Cliffs needs a strong leader who can manage this business through the inevitable and highly volatile cycles in a disciplined, value-enhancing manner."
