Our leadership (original) (raw)
Our Board and Executive Management have diverse and extensive experience and a track record of value creation.
Our Board
Committee key
- A Audit and Risk Committee
- E ESG Committee
- TH Technical, Health and Safety Committee
- GN Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee
- R Remuneration Committee
- C Chairman of Committee
Srinivasan Venkatakrishnan (“Venkat”)
Chair
- E
- TH
- GN
Appointment: May 2022
Nationality: British/Indian
Qualifications: ACA, BCOM
Chair of Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee
Committees:
- E ESG Committee
- TH Technical, Health and Safety Committee
- GN Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee
Srinivasan Venkatakrishnan (“Venkat”)
Chair
Venkat is a Corporate Director who brings a wealth of mining and financial experience gained through his experience of leading global mining businesses in a career that has spanned 17 countries and six continents. He has been a Director of quoted companies for two and a half decades and has a proven track record of leading multinational publicly listed organisations through periods of challenging and transformative change.
He served as CEO of Vedanta Resources plc from 2018 to 2020 and was CEO of AngloGold Ashanti Limited between 2013 to 2018, having previously been chief financial officer of the business from 2005 and of Ashanti Goldfields Limited from 2000.
In his early career, he was a director with Deloitte in London, leading corporate restructurings on behalf of both corporates and financiers. Venkat has also served on the boards of Weir Group Plc, the World Gold Council, International Council on Mining and Metals and the Financial Review Investigation Panel of the JSE.
Skills and expertise
Strategy and leadership, metals and mining, finance, public policy, accounting, international business, operations and exploration, corporate governance and sustainability
External appointments
Blackrock World Mining Trust Plc
Wheaton Precious Metals Corporation
Ian Cockerill
Chief Executive Officer
- E
- TH
Appointment: May 2022
Nationality: British
Qualifications: MSc Mineral Production Management, BSc (Hons) Geology
Committees:
- E ESG Committee
- TH Technical, Health and Safety Committee
Ian Cockerill
Chief Executive Officer
Ian Cockerill was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of Endeavour in January 2024, having joined the Board as Senior Independent Director in 2022 and having held the role of Deputy Chair since September 2023. He has nearly 50 years of experience in the global natural resources industry, having previously been CEO at Gold Fields Ltd and CEO at AngloCoal, a subsidiary of the Anglo American group.
He holds a BSc (Hons) degree in Geology from London University, an MSc in Mineral Production Management from the Royal School of Mines and the AMP from Templeton College Oxford. Mr Cockerill was the former chair of the BlackRock World Mining Trust and also of Polymetal Plc. He was the former lead independent director of Ivanhoe Mines Ltd and a non-executive director of Orica Ltd.
He is associated with two private businesses as a non-executive director of Ipulse Ltd and non-executive chair of Argo Natural Resources.
Skills and expertise
Strategy and leadership, metals and mining, international business, finance, public policy, human resources, corporate governance and operations and exploration
Alison Baker
Senior Independent Director
- A
- GN
- R
Appointment: March 2020
Nationality: British
Qualifications: Chartered Accountants of England and Wales and BSc Mathematical Sciences
Chair of Audit Committee
Committees:
- A Audit and Risk Committee
- GN Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee
- R Remuneration Committee
Alison Baker
Senior Independent Director
Alison Baker has over 25 years’ experience in providing audit, capital markets, advisory and assurance services to the energy and mining sectors, particularly in emerging markets, having previously been a partner at both PwC and EY.
She is a member of Chapter Zero, the Directors’ Climate Forum for UK non-executive directors. She is currently a non-executive director and audit committee chair at TSX listed Capstone Copper Corp. and senior independent director and audit committee chair at London listed Helios Towers plc and Rockhopper Exploration plc.
Skills and expertise
Strategy and leadership, metals and mining, finance, accounting, international business, corporate governance and sustainability
External appointments
Helios Towers plc
Rockhopper Exploration plc
Capstone Copper Corp
Cathia Lawson-Hall
Independent Non-Executive Director
- E
- R
Appointment: September 2023
Nationality: French
Qualifications: Masters degree postgraduate degree (DEA) in Finance from Paris Dauphine University
Chair of ESG Committee
Committees:
- E ESG Committee
- R Remuneration Committee
Cathia Lawson-Hall
Independent Non-Executive Director
Cathia Lawson-Hall has over 25 years of experience in finance. She was head of coverage and investment banking for Africa at Société Générale where she oversaw relations with African governments, large corporates and financial institutions. In her previous role at Société Générale, she was managing director, co-head of debt capital markets for corporates in France, Belgium and Luxembourg.
She started her career as a financial analyst covering the telecommunications and media sectors before moving into financial consulting. She has built up solid experience in corporate and investment banking, primarily in debt capital markets, financial analysis and consulting.
She is an independent member of the board of directors of the Agence Française de Développement.
Skills and expertise
Finance, public policy, strategy and leadership, international business and corporate governance
External appointments
Universal Music Group N.V
Vivendi S.A
Livia Mahler
Independent Non-Executive Director
- A
- TH
- GN
- R
Appointment: October 2016
Nationality: Canadian
Qualifications: MBA, B.Sc
Chair of Remuneration Committee
Committees:
- A Audit and Risk Committee
- TH Technical, Health and Safety Committee
- GN Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee
- R Remuneration Committee
Livia Mahler
Independent Non-Executive Director
Livia Mahler’s background includes 12 years in developing exploration technologies in natural resources and 20 years of experience in venture capital. She has been a member of a number of boards, audit committees and remuneration committees.
Ms. Mahler is currently president and chief executive officer of Computational Geosciences Inc., a company that provides geophysical data processing services to the mining and oil & gas industries. She has previously served on the boards of Ivanhoe Mines, Diversified Royalty Corp., Turquoise Hill Resources Ltd. And DuSolo Fertilizers Inc.
Skills and expertise
Strategy and leadership, metals and mining, finance, public policy, human resources, accounting, international business and operations and exploration
External appointments
N/A
Sakhila Mirza
Independent Non-Executive Director
- A
- E
- GN
Appointment: September 2022
Nationality: British/Pakistani
Qualifications: LLB
Committees:
- A Audit and Risk Committee
- E ESG Committee
- GN Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee
Sakhila Mirza
Independent Non-Executive Director
Sakhila Mirza has over 15 years’ experience in the energy and commodities industry. She is currently deputy CEO and general counsel of the LBMA, working closely with the directors and the CEO on the strategic direction of the LBMA. Sakhila leads on sustainability and responsible sourcing and also provides guidance on the governance, legal and compliance risks.
On behalf of the LBMA members she is heavily involved in discussions with governments and regulators on issues affecting the market, refiners, and bullion banks. She is a trustee of the Recruitment Employment Confederation and of Speakers for School. Ms Mirza has an LLB in Law from the London School of Economics and is a qualified solicitor.
Skills and expertise
Strategy and leadership, metals and mining, international business and finance
External appointments
N/A
Patrick Bouisset
Non-Executive Director
- E
- TH
Appointment: May 2023
Nationality: French
Qualifications: MgeoSci, M.S.E
Committees:
- E ESG Committee
- TH Technical, Health and Safety Committee
Patrick Bouisset
Non-Executive Director
Patrick Bouisset joined Endeavour as the Executive Vice President of Exploration in November 2015. He has over 30 years of experience in mining and oil and gas exploration and he retired from his executive role at Endeavour in December 2022.
Prior to joining Endeavour, Mr Bouisset was executive vice president exploration and new ventures of La Mancha and before that, vice president of geoscience for Areva’s mining business group. For six years, as a member of Areva’s executive committee, he led worldwide uranium exploration activities and managed all of its preproduction subsidiaries. Before joining Areva in 2007, he spent more than 20 years with Total in various exploration and production roles and led the company’s oil and gas exploration activities in Africa.
Skills and expertise
Metals and mining, operations and exploration, strategy and leadership, international business, human resources, public policy and sustainability
Naguib Sawiris
Non-Executive Director
Appointment: November 2015
Nationality: Egyptian
Qualifications: Diploma of Mechanical Engineering with a Masters in Technical Administration
Naguib Sawiris
Non-Executive Director
Naguib Sawiris founded Orascom Telecom Holding (OTH) which subsequently merged with VimpelCom Ltd. Creating the world’s sixth largest mobile telecommunications provider in April 2011.
After divesting his telecom empire, his main focus is currently on mining and real estate development. Mr. Sawiris is a recipient of numerous honorary degrees, awards, and honors including an Honorary Doctorate of Law by Handong Global University of South Korea, the Honor of Commander of the “Legion d’Honneur”, the Honour of Commander of the “Stella della Solidarieta Italiana” and the “Sitara-eQuaid-eAzam” of Pakistan among others.
Today, he is the Chairman of Orascom Investment Holding and Chairman of Ora Developers, a company undertaking high-end real estate developments and hospitality projects in various prime locations around the world.
Mr. Sawiris sits on the following boards: La Mancha Holding, Nile City for Investments SAE, Nile Sugar SAE, Chairman and Orascom TMT Investments S.à r.l., Manager A.
Skills and expertise
Strategy and leadership, metals and mining, finance, public policy and international business
External appointments
Orascom Investment Holding SAE
John Munro
Independent Non-Executive Director
- TH
- R
Appointment: May 2024
Nationality: British
Qualifications: BSc Chemical Engineering; AMP
Chair of Technical, Health and Safety Committee
Committees:
- TH Technical, Health and Safety Committee
- R Remuneration Committee
John Munro
Independent Non-Executive Director
John Munro brings over 30 years of experience in mining, having held a number of senior executive roles in the international mining industry, leading mining operations and businesses in Africa and around the world, in a range of commodities. In the early 2000s John was an executive of Gold Fields Limited, variously leading that company’s international operations, project development and strategy. In 2008 he was appointed CEO of Rand Uranium, a private equity sponsored uranium and gold start up. Thereafter, John moved to London working initially in First Reserve Corporation’s mining buy out team before joining Cupric Canyon Capital in 2014. John held various executive roles at Cupric, including two years as CEO, leading the financing and development of that company, culminating in the sale to MMG Limited in 2024.
John holds a BSc Chemical Engineering from the University of Cape Town and an AMP from Harvard Business School. He was previously a non-executive director of Nordgold SE and is currently a non-executive director of Manuli Hydraulics, a private company.
Skills and expertise
Strategy & Leadership, Operations & Exploration, Metals & Mining, International Business, Corporate Finance
Company Secretary
Susanna Freeman
Company Secretary
Susanna Freeman
Company Secretary
Susanna joined Endeavour in 2022 and as Company Secretary, she is responsible for Board and Group Governance. She has held senior roles in listed company governance and legal compliance for 25 years and has over ten years’ experience within the mining industry, in both Asia and Africa.
Prior to joining Endeavour, Susanna was Company Secretary at copper miner KAZ Minerals PLC and she has been Company Secretary of three other listed UK companies in the software and financial services industries. She has an Honours Degree in French from Bristol University and is a UK qualified corporate and commercial solicitor. Susanna is also on the Board of International Women in Mining.
Ian Cockerill
Chief Executive Officer
Ian Cockerill
Chief Executive Officer
Ian Cockerill was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of Endeavour in January 2024, having joined the Board as Senior Independent Director in 2022 and having held the role of Deputy Chair since September 2023. He has nearly 50 years of experience in the global natural resources industry, having previously been CEO at Gold Fields Ltd and CEO at AngloCoal, a subsidiary of the Anglo American group.
He holds a BSc (Hons) degree in Geology from London University, an MSc in Mineral Production Management from the Royal School of Mines and the AMP from Templeton College Oxford. Mr Cockerill was the former chair of the BlackRock World Mining Trust and also of Polymetal Plc. He was the former lead independent director of Ivanhoe Mines Ltd and a non-executive director of Orica Ltd.
He is associated with two private businesses as a non-executive director of Ipulse Ltd and non-executive chair of Argo Natural Resources.
Skills and expertise
Strategy and leadership, metals and mining, international business, finance, public policy, human resources, corporate governance and operations and exploration
Guy Young
Executive VP and Chief Financial Officer
Guy Young
Executive VP and Chief Financial Officer
Guy Young joined Endeavour in March 2023 as Chief Financial Officer.
Prior to joining Endeavour, Guy served as director and chief financial officer of Vesuvius plc, the FTSE 250 molten metal engineering and technology group, where he had been chief financial officer since 2015. From January 2011 to October 2015, he served as chief financial officer of Tarmac and latterly Lafarge Tarmac, the British building materials company. Guy held a number of senior financial and business development positions at Anglo American plc from 1997 to 2010, including the position of CFO of Scaw Metals Group, the South African steel products manufacturer.
Guy is qualified with the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants.
Djaria Traore
Executive VP Operations and ESG
Djaria Traore
Executive VP Operations and ESG
Djariatou (Djaria) Traore joined Endeavour in 2019 as VP Supply Chain and was promoted to EVP ESG and Supply Chain in January 2023 and then EVP Operations and ESG in September 2024. She has over 24 years of experience in the mining industry with extensive expertise in Africa, as well as commercial leadership roles that required significant interface with operations and across disciplines.
Prior to joining Endeavour, Djaria held several senior management roles including Global Procurement Director for Nordgold and Global Sales Director for Africa for Connell Mining, a subsidiary of Connell Company, one of the largest privately-held corporation in the US.
A champion for diversity, in 2020, Djaria was recognised as one of the ‘100 Global Inspirational Women in Mining’ for her focus on women and local content initiatives.
Martin White
Executive VP and Chief Technical Officer
Martin White
Executive VP and Chief Technical Officer
Martin White joined Endeavour in September 2020 as the General Manager of the Mana Mine, in Burkina Faso, before being appointed EVP Projects in late 2022. Martin has over 30 years of experience in the mining industry with expertise in mine production management, safety and environmental controls, mine feasibility and environmental studies, and project development.
Prior to joining Endeavour, Martin held several senior management positions including technical director for Nordgold and as general manager at its Lefa Mine, as well as chief operating officer of Aureus Mining and general manager for Arcon Mines.
Guénolé Pichevin
Executive VP Strategy and Business Development
Guénolé Pichevin
Executive VP Strategy and Business Development
Guénolé Pichevin joined Endeavour in 2016 and as Executive VP Strategy & Business Development he is responsible for the Company’s M&A, strategic planning and business development functions. Since 2016, he has been closely involved in a number of transformational initiatives for Endeavour, including the acquisitions of SEMAFO and Teranga, asset disposals, strategic plans and long-term financings.
Prior to joining Endeavour, Guénolé held several roles in Europe and Asia with European banks in natural resources financing and advisory.
Sonia Scarselli
Executive VP Exploration
Sonia Scarselli
Executive VP Exploration
Sonia Scarselli joined Endeavour in January 2025 as Executive Vice President, Exploration.
Prior to joining Endeavour, Sonia Scarselli led BHP’s Metals Exploration division and BHP’s innovative accelerator program, BHP Xplor, with a focus on creating transformative and collaborative approaches to further expand the company’s future growth options. She was appointed VP of BHP Xplor in June 2022 and her remit was expanded through this new role to include leadership of the Exploration organisation in September 2023. After joining BHP in 2012, Sonia held several leadership positions through her tenure within BHP Petroleum, including: VP of Exploration and Appraisal, Head of Algeria, and Exploration Manager for Trinidad and Tobago. Sonia started her career at ExxonMobil UK.
Sonia holds a master’s degree in Geological Science from Università degli studi di Perugia, a PhD in Geology from ETH Zurich and an MBA from the London Business School. She serves as advisor in Deep Energy Capital, LLP, CEOs Against Cancer Chapter, and the AAPG Advisory Council.
David Dragone
Executive VP HR and Communication
David Dragone
Executive VP HR and Communication
David Dragone joined Endeavour in January 2023 as EVP Human Resources and Communications. David has over 20 years’ experience in human resources, with expertise in organisational design, culture, people development and talent management, industrial relations, integration processes and change management.
Prior to joining Endeavour, David has held senior positions in large, multinational organisations operating in a variety of sectors, including Schlumberger, the world’s leading international geosciences company CGG, multinational nuclear fuel cycle company Orano, and most recently at Nexans, the cable and fibre optics business.
Morgan Carroll
Executive VP and Chief Commercial Officer
Morgan Carroll
Executive VP and Chief Commercial Officer
Morgan Carroll joined Endeavour at its inception as a mining company in 2011, and has over 20 years of experience in mining finance and advisory.
Morgan initially practised as a natural resources lawyer at a large multinational law firm in New York and London, and worked at several US and European banks in structured finance roles, before joining Endeavour Financial on the advisory side in 2008. He has wide-ranging experience advising on base and precious metals and corporate transactions. Throughout his career, his areas of focus have been corporate and project finance, debt and equity capital markets, M&A and corporate development, joint ventures and Board-level governance.
Samantha Campbell
Executive VP and Group General Counsel
Samantha Campbell
Executive VP and Group General Counsel
Samantha Campbell joined Endeavour in February 2023 as Deputy General Counsel and was appointed General Counsel with effect from September 2024.
Samantha is qualified in England and has practiced law for over 25 years, with a focus on natural resources and energy projects and investments across Africa, Asia and the CIS, supporting clients on complex matters across the mining, energy and banking and financial services sectors. She has wide-ranging experience advising on all legal aspects of finance, corporate and commercial transactions, including corporate and project finance, debt and equity capital markets, M&A, joint ventures and strategic commercial contracts, as well as compliance and corporate governance.
Samantha joined from global law firm Hogan Lovells where she had been a partner in Asia since 2015, having prior to that served for five years as partner with a French international law firm and practiced at a US law firm in London for almost ten years.
Pascal Bernasconi
Executive VP Public Affairs, Security and Social Performance
Pascal Bernasconi
Executive VP Public Affairs, Security and Social Performance
Pascal joined Endeavour in 2016 from the La Mancha Group, where he was general manager of the Société des Mines d’Ity, bringing with him significant experience managing complex operating environments. He began his career in the nuclear industry at COGEMA, where he managed a large nuclear site in France for five years before moving to Areva’s mining operations in Kazakhstan and in Niger.