Mining company Copper 360 has appointed Gordon Thompson as its chief executive officer and Seten Naidoo as its chief financial officer. Both appointments took effect on 24 September 2026.
Copper 360 announced the changes on Friday, 25 September, after the market closed, Daily Investor reported. The appointments follow several executive resignations at the company during 2026.
“The board confirms that fit and proper assessments have been undertaken in respect of each of Mr Thompson and Mr Naidoo and that the board is satisfied with the outcome thereof,” the company said.
Thompson has 25 years of experience in mine development, construction, commissioning and operations across Africa. He joined Copper 360 as chief operating officer in June 2023 and held that role until his new appointment.
Naidoo was the company’s executive director and chief risk officer before the change. Copper 360 said he has 17 years of experience in financial markets within the mining sector. That experience covers asset management and corporate strategy.
Naidoo joined Copper 360 in 2025 as chief risk officer. He also served as the company’s transitional commercial director. He has been interim chief financial officer since June 2026.
The leadership changes at Copper 360 began in February 2026. Chief executive Graham Briggs and commercial executive Stephen du Plessis announced then that they would take a leave of absence with immediate effect.
Thompson began serving as transitional chief executive after Briggs resigned, Daily Investor reported.
A month later, the company secretary, law firm Phillip Venter Attorneys, announced its resignation. That resignation took effect on 16 March 2026.
On 11 June, Copper 360 announced that its chief financial officer, Ferdinand Nel, had also resigned. His resignation took effect on 8 June.
In August 2026, Copper 360 announced the appointment of Neal Froneman as its chairman. Froneman was the founding chief executive of Sibanye-Stillwater. He has also worked at Gold Fields, Harmony Gold and JCI.
Copper 360 was founded in November 2022. The company has not reported a profit since then, according to Daily Investor.
Its operating losses since the 2023 financial year add up to nearly R800 million. That total runs to the end of the 2026 financial year.
Daily Investor reported that it costs Copper 360 more to produce copper than the price it can sell it for.
Source: this article is based on reporting by Daily Investor. Image: Daily Investor. Written with the help of AI and published by the Tzaneen Voice Business desk. See our Editorial Standards.
Anelisa Nkuna covers business and money news for Tzaneen Voice. Anelisa reports on the rand, fuel prices, interest rates, jobs, Eskom, Transnet, farming and company results. The aim is simple: explain what the numbers mean for household budgets, small businesses and workers in South Africa.