A significant leadership transition has been announced at Zijin Mining Group Company Limited (601899). On November 28, the company disclosed in an evening announcement that its eighth board of directors held an interim meeting via a hybrid format, combining in-person attendance at its Shanghang headquarters and Xiamen branch with virtual participation.
With the eighth board’s term nearing its end, the Nomination and Remuneration Committee, following extensive consultations, recommended Zou Laichang, Lin Hongfu, Wu Jianhui, Shen Shaoyang, Zheng Youcheng, Wu Honghui, and Li Jian as candidates for the ninth board of directors. Among them, Zou Laichang, Lin Hongfu, Wu Jianhui, Shen Shaoyang, Zheng Youcheng, and Wu Honghui are proposed as executive directors, while Li Jian is nominated as a non-executive director.
Chen Jinghe, who has led Zijin Mining since its founding in 1993, will not stand for re-election as a director nominee for the ninth board. Under his 32-year leadership, Zijin Mining has grown into a global mining giant, ranking among the top three metal mining companies by comprehensive metrics, with a market capitalization exceeding $100 billion. The company has developed a globally competitive technological and managerial framework, corporate culture, and core leadership team, laying a solid foundation for sustainable growth.
Citing age and family reasons, Chen declined the board’s nomination despite strong appeals from major shareholders and the board. He emphasized that enduring enterprises must transition from "founder-driven" to "system-driven," noting that the current leadership team is now mature, marking an ideal time for succession. To honor Chen’s contributions, Zijin Mining plans to appoint him as Lifetime Honorary Chairman and Senior Advisor, a role that will be formalized in the company’s articles of association. Chen will continue advising on major strategic decisions and resource integration to support long-term development. The proposal was approved by the Nomination and Remuneration Committee before submission to the board.
**Profile of Chen Jinghe**: Born in October 1957, Chen holds a geology degree from Fuzhou University and an EMBA from Xiamen University. A professor-level senior engineer and recipient of the State Council’s special allowance, he served as a deputy to Fujian’s Provincial People’s Congress for four terms. Chen is a vice chairman of multiple industry associations, including the China Mining Association and the China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association, and a board member of the World Gold Council. As Zijin Mining’s founder and key leader, he spearheaded the discovery and development of the Zijinshan gold-copper mine. Chen served as Chairman since 2000 (concurrently as CEO from August 2006 to November 2009) and heads the National Key Laboratory for Comprehensive Utilization of Low-Grade Refractory Gold Resources. His innovations in geological exploration, low-grade resource utilization, and large-scale mining have earned him a National Science and Technology Progress Award (First Class), 18 provincial/ministerial awards, and 27 patents.
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