Northern Star Hands Top Job to Glencore Executive After Investor Revolt

Northern Star Resources, Australia's biggest gold producer, has named Glencore executive Suresh Vadnagra as its next chief executive, ending months of pressure from an activist shareholder that had been agitating for a management shake up.

Vadnagra currently oversees Glencore's nickel and zinc industrial assets and brings more than 25 years of experience across major global mining operations, including an earlier stint at Newcrest where he ran major projects, technical teams and technology functions. He is set to take over as managing director and chief executive on October 5, with chief financial officer Ryan Gurner holding the role on an interim basis until then.

A costly exit for the outgoing chief

Vadnagra will replace Stuart Tonkin, who spent 13 years leading the company before announcing his resignation in May following a run of production setbacks and a slide in the share price. Northern Star has also confirmed a leadership change at board level, with chairman Michael Chaney set to retire in November and be succeeded by fellow director Michael Ashforth.

The incoming chief executive's pay package includes a base salary of 2.2 million dollars, a sign on payment of 1.6 million dollars and roughly 4 million dollars in sign on shares, to be delivered across three tranches running through to October 2028.

Elliott's billion dollar push

The leadership overhaul follows a public campaign by activist investor Elliott Investment Management, which disclosed in early June that it had built a stake worth about 1 billion Australian dollars, or roughly 716 million US dollars, in Northern Star. Elliott had criticized the company over cost overruns, operational inconsistency and what it called scattered decision making, and pressed the board to bring in a chief executive with proven turnaround experience as part of a broader strategic review.