Newmont Appoints Natascha Viljoen as First Woman CEO

US-based leading gold company Newmont announced that Tom Palmer will resign as CEO and from the Board of Directors. He will be succeeded by Natascha Viljoen, the company's current President and COO, who will become the first woman to lead the company over its more than 100 years of existence.

Viljoen will assume the role of President and CEO, effective Jan. 1, 2026, and will join the Board of Directors at that time. To support a seamless transition, Palmer will serve as a Strategic Advisor until his full retirement on Mar. 31, 2026, Newmont noted. “After 12 years with Newmont, and almost 40 years in the mining industry, it is time for me to retire and hand over to Natascha to lead our company through the next chapter in its storied history,” Palmer noted.

Palmer was the 10th CEO in Newmont’s 104-year history. Under his leadership, the company executed major transactions, including the acquisitions of Goldcorp and Newcrest, as well as the formation of the Nevada Gold Mines Joint Venture with Barrick Mining. 

Viljoen joined Newmont in 2023 as Executive Vice President and COO, bringing with her more than three decades of global leadership experience. Before joining Newmont, she served as CEO of Anglo American Platinum, now Valterra, the world’s largest platinum producer. 

“I am honored to serve as the next CEO of Newmont at this pivotal moment. With deep respect for our legacy, I am grounded in the work ahead. We have assembled the industry’s strongest portfolio of long-life gold and copper assets, which we are determined to manage safely and effectively,” Viljoen said.