Gold miner AngloGold Ashanti has appointed Marcelo Godoy as its chief technology officer, with effect from November 1.

Godoy, a mining engineer who holds a master's degree in geostatistics and a PhD in strategic mine planning, joins AngloGold Ashanti from NYSE-listed gold mining company Newmont Corporation where he is senior VP for exploration.

“Marcelo brings to AngloGold deep experience in resource modelling, mine planning and project development, as well as a record in leading technical teams and introducing technology to drive sustainable competitive advantage.

“He is a key addition of the leadership team, which will be working hard in the coming months to improve our operating performance, cost position and project delivery, as well as the predictability and reliability of our forecasts,” AngloGold CEO Alberto Calderon says.

At Newmont, Godoy led the development of numerous innovation programmes, including a world-class orebody risk management system that delivered a step change in the reliability of production forecasts.

He is a recognised leader in the field of mine planning under geological uncertainty and a champion of diversity and inclusion.

Prior to joining Newmont, Godoy was mining sector leader for consulting, design and construction multinational Golder Associates in South America and a director on Golder's global board.

During his tenure at Golder, he managed major mining feasibility studies and reserve compliance audits for Chilean copper miners Codelco and  Antofagasta Minerals, and diversified mining companies Vale, BHP and Anglo American.

He has more than 20 years of experience in the mining industry.

Godoy will succeed AngloGold executive VP for group planning and technical Graham Ehm, who retires at the end of the year, later than initially planned after agreeing to stay on until AngloGold's new leadership was established and underground mining at the Obuasi gold mine, in Ghana, resumed. Ehm has spent 30 years with AngloGold and its predecessor Australia’s Acacia Resources, which AngloGold acquired in 1999.

For seven years, Ehm was Sunrise Dam GM, in Australia, and managed its expansion and transition to underground mining. He led the successful turnaround of the Geita gold mine, in Tanzania, from 2009 to 2010, restoring its position as one of AngloGold's most productive and valuable mining assets.

Ehm also led the development of the Tropicana gold mine, in Australia, from discovery to implementation and, more recently, also led the project to redevelop the Obuasi mine.

“Graham will oversee the restart of Obuasi in 2021 and will also work closely with Marcelo in the coming months to ensure a smooth handover of his portfolio. We bid a very fond farewell to Graham, who has not only built a very strong record of delivery in AngloGold over more than two decades, but has exemplified its values at each step of the way,” Calderon says.