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We believe that strong leadership should be central to what we do every day, and plays a major role in how we help make mining matter.

On a global level, our chief executive officers and directors are accountable to our group chief executive Duncan Wanblad, and form part of the Group’s executive committee. If you want to know more about our global leadership team, read their biographies.

In South Africa, our executive leadership team consists of the Chair of Anglo American in South Africa, Nolitha Fakude and CEO from our South African business, Kumba Iron Ore, Mpumi Zikalala.

Leadership team

Nolitha Fakude

Nolitha Fakude

Chair Anglo American in South Africa
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Nolitha Fakude
Nolitha Fakude
Chair Anglo American in South Africa
  • Member of: Group Management Committee (GMC). BA Hons, Chair of Anglo American South Africa since September 2019.

Nolitha Fakude is Chair of Anglo American’s South African Management Board. She has over 30 years of experience across a diverse range of industry sectors, including oil and gas, petrochemicals, financial services and retail.

Prior to this appointment, she was a non-executive director of the Anglo American plc Board. She also holds the position of a Non-Executive Director of the JSE Limited and serves on the Boards of Discovery Bank Holdings and International Woman’s Forum South Africa (IWFSA). She is a Patron of Guild Cottage home for girls.

Nolitha has held senior management positions in corporate affairs, strategy and human resources in the retail and financial sectors. She has also served on numerous Boards including Sasol, African Oxygen Limited (AFROX), and a Deputy Chair and Lead Independent Director of Datacentrix Holdings Limited and a Non-Executive Director of Harmony Gold and Woolworths Holdings among others. Fakude is a former President of the Black Management Forum (BMF).

Nolitha holds a Bachelor of Arts and an Honours degree in Psychology from the University of Fort Hare. She is the author of a book, titled Boardroom Dancing which is a memoir tracking her career journey and role as a corporate activist and inspirational businesswoman with a passion for leadership development especially for women and black people in the workplace.

Mpumi Zikalala

Mpumi Zikalala

Chief Executive Officer at Kumba Iron Ore Limited
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Mpumi Zikalala
Mpumi Zikalala
Chief Executive Officer at Kumba Iron Ore Limited

Mpumi was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Kumba Iron Ore Limited with effect from 1 January 2022 and joined the Kumba Board as an executive director. She assumed the role of Chairman of the operating entity, Sishen Iron Ore Company (Pty) Ltd. Mpumi was a De Beers Group bursar and officially joined De Beers in 2001 as a process engineer. As part of her production journey, she worked on process improvement and plant design projects, she also worked in various leadership roles within production management. She was appointed General Manager at De Beers Kimberley Mines in 2007, becoming the first female General Manager in the De Beers Group. In 2010, she was appointed General Manager of De Beers Voorspoed mine and three and a half years later became Senior Vice-President of De Beers Sightholder Sales South Africa.

Mpumi was promoted to Deputy CEO of De Beers Consolidated Mines in November 2017, rising to the position of Managing Director, De Beers Group Managed Operations, in April 2019. Managed Operations includes De Beers Group's operations in South Africa and Canada.

Mpumi holds a BSc in chemical engineering from the University of the Witwatersrand and completed leadership development at the London Business School.

Mpumi previously served as a non-executive director of various companies including the Black Management Forum and Mintek. She was a winner of the 2018 Top 100 Global Inspirational Women in Mining awards issued in Mayfield, London. She was a winner of the 2018 Top 100 Global Inspirational Women in Mining awards issued in Mayfield, London.