Gold Fields Ltd, the world’s fourth and Africa’s number two leading producer of gold has announced the elevation of its operations in Ghana as the hub for the growth of its (Gold fields’) stable in the West Africa Region. As a consequence, the vice president and the Managing Director of the Ghana Division, Peter Turner, has been promoted to the position of Executive Vice President and Head of the West Africa Region, effective 1 August 2009. By this elevation, Peter has joined the ranks of the Gold Fields Executive Committee (EXCO team) which makes up the executive leadership of Gold Fields. This announcement was made in Johannesburg on August 4 2009 by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Nick Holland. In a statement signed by Toni Aubynn, Head of Corporate Affairs and Social Development of Gold Fields Ghana Division, the company’s Corporate office in Accra will now become a Regional Office for West Africa. “Mr. Peter Turner will head up the whole of the West African region and will take responsibility for the strategic leadership and all operational activities in this region. Peter will also work with the Corporate Development team as well as the Exploration team, to grow production in the West African region to one million ounces within four years. This will contribute to the Gold Fields strategic goal of becoming a five million ounce producer”, the statement added. The CEO of Gold Fields Limited, Nick Holland said, “This completes our new regionalisation strategy and our goal of becoming a five million ounce producer. I am deeply excited by the opportunity to tap into Peter’s rich experience in the region and his enthusiasm to bring more quality ounces to the Gold Fields’ stable”. A Mechanical and Mining Engineering by training, Peter has over 34 years experience in the mining industry with Anglo American, AngloGold and Gold Fields in both open pit and deep level underground operations, having previously worked in Mali, Tanzania, Namibia and South Africa. He was posted to Ghana in October 2008 as the Vice President and Head of Gold Fields’ operations in Ghana and within a year has been promoted to his present position. “Peter is a keen golfer, and plays cricket and cycling as well. He enjoys fishing and big game hunting. He has great interest in safety, conservation and sustainable development issues and currently chairs the Gold Fields Ghana Foundation, under which aegis the company finances most of its Corporate Social Responsibility programmes as well as the Ghana Chapter of the Leadership for the Conservation of Africa. As the Chairman of the Ghana Chapter, Peter has been passionately involved in ensuring that the Ghana Chapter is firmly footed to deliver programmes and projects that have significant socio-economic benefits to local communities while conserving nature as well”, the Toni Aubynn (Dr) concluded. Source: Daily Guide/Ghana