Today MMG announced its new Chief Operating Officer (COO), Marcelo Bastos had commenced his new appointment with the group reporting to CEO, Andrew Michelmore.
MMG CEO, Andrew Michelmore said Mr Bastos brings 26 years of significant international mining experience to the COO role and MMG’s Executive Committee.
“Marcelo’s career has involved a number of senior management positions within the iron ore, gold, copper, nickel, and coal sectors and importantly, his appointment will further enable us to achieve our strategic objective to be recognised by 2014 as one of the top three mid-tier mining companies internationally,” Mr Michelmore said.
Mr Bastos joins MMG from BHP Billiton, where as Chief Executive Officer of BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) he was responsible for all operations.
“BMA is a substantial business, so the calibre of mining management experience Marcelo will bring to MMG is invaluable,” Mr Michelmore said.
Mr Bastos spent six years at BHP Billiton, where he held senior management roles in the company’s nickel operations including: President of Nickel West based in Western Australia; and President and COO of Nickel Americas based in Columbia.
While at BMA, Mr Bastos achieved the best half year production in the company’s history, and of particular note, the best safety record in terms of Total Recordable Injury Frequency Rate.
Prior to these positions, Mr Bastos had a 19-year career at the Brazilian based mining company – Vale, where more recently he was Director of Non Ferrous Operations, and General Manager for Iron Ore Operations.
Mr Bastos is a qualified Mechanical Engineer, and has also completed a Master of Business Administration in Management.
He takes over the COO role at MMG after Mr Brett Fletcher resigned in March 2011. MMG’s Executive General Manager Exploration, Steve Ryan, has been acting in the role of COO since March.