Srinivasan Venkatakrishnan

Venkat was appointed CEO in 2013, after which he set a clear strategy to sustainably improve free cash flow and returns by emphasising strict capital discipline and the development of a strong pipeline of brownfields investment options. He has prioritised high-return, self-funded project options designed to improve production life and margins with optimal capital investment and payback periods. Venkat has built a strong, stable senior management team focused on consistently meeting challenging operating and financial targets that directly support AngloGold Ashanti’s strategy. In each of the five years of his tenure, all capital, cost and production targets have either been met or improved upon.

Venkat has overseen the successful development of two new mines, the reduction of overhead and operating costs by almost half and the internal generation of funds to invest in the portfolio and to reduce debt by more than a third, all without issuing any shares to shareholders. These operating and balance sheet improvements were undertaken despite a sharply lower gold price and while achieving a marked improvement in overall safety, environmental management and community engagement trends.

He was previously Chief Financial Officer at AngloGold Ashanti, a post he also held at Ashanti Goldfields before its merger with AngloGold in 2004. In these roles he oversaw funding for both companies, gaining detailed knowledge of the portfolio of mines and operating jurisdictions, as well as commodity and capital markets. During this time he also bore responsibility for eliminating AngloGold Ashanti’s 12Moz of legacy hedge positions. Prior to joining Ashanti Goldfields, Venkat was a director of corporate reorganisation services at Deloitte & Touche in London.

Venkat is also a Director of Business Leadership South Africa and the World Gold Council. He is a Council member of the South African Chamber of Mines and International Council on Mining and Metals, and a member of the Financial Reporting Investigation Panel of the JSE Limited.