Woodall takes gig at Newcrest
Former Fortescue Metals Group operations director David Woodall has found a new home, accepting the job of turning around Newcrest Mining's troubled Lihir operations as part of a management shake-up associated with the departure of Newcrest managing director Greg Robinson later this year.
Mr Woodall has been tapped by incoming Newcrest boss Sandeep Biswas as the general manager of international operations, with responsibility for Lihir and Newcrest's assets in Indonesia and Cote d'Ivoire.
The shake-up involves the departure of two Newcrest executives closely associated with Lihir over the past few years - Brett Fletcher, Lihir's general manager since March last year and Lawrie Conway, Newcrest's commercial manager when it acquired Lihir Gold in 2010 in a $9.5 billion tie-up.
Mr Woodall left Fortescue in December after less than a year in the role.
Mr Woodall was a key lieutenant of Robert Friedland as president of Ivanhoe Mines' gold division and his CV includes stints at Rio's West Angelas mine, the Kanowna Belle gold mine when it was owned by Placer Dome, and with Sino Gold and Glencore International.
Fortescue is yet to announce a replacement for Mr Woodall. Chief executive Nev Power told reporters yesterday the recruitment process was still under way, and the company expected to make an announcement over the next month.
Newcrest shares closed down 11¢ to $11.15 yesterday.
