Canadian-based global copper miner First Quantum appointed Tristan Pascall, the company’s current COO, to take over as CEO this year.
He succeeds his father, chairman and CEO Phillip Pascall, who will retire from the role in May. The transition will become effective during the miner’s 2022 annual general meeting.
The elder Pascall will remain chairman of the company’s board.
Robert Harding, chair of First Quantum’s nominating and governance committee and lead independent director, noted that the junior Pascall has “demonstrated impressive leadership” in his role, particularly as it ramped up its largest asset during the global pandemic.
“Tristan’s previous hands-on leadership experience of eight years in Zambia and four years in Panama has given him a deep knowledge of our assets, operating teams and local partners. His practical, on-the-ground experience with our people and projects, combined with lessons learned from the countries where we operate, embodies the company’s culture and makes Tristan the right leader for First Quantum,” he added.
Tristan Pascall joined First Quantum in 2007 and held progressively senior operational roles in Africa and Latin America until 2020, when he served as director of strategy and later became COO in January 2021.
He graduated from the University of Western Australia with a Bachelor of Engineering (Honors) and Bachelor of Commerce and completed an MBA at INSEAD.
Philip Pascall was a co-founder of First Quantum Minerals in 1996 and has served as its CEO and chairman ever since. He retires as one of the longest-serving CEOs among the world’s major mining companies.