Newmont Corporation (NYSE: NEM, ASX: NEM, PNGX: NEM) has announced the retirement of Tom Palmer, who has served as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) since 2019. Palmer will resign from the board of directors and as CEO on December 31, 2025. Natascha Viljoen, the current President and Chief Operating Officer (COO), will succeed Palmer as President and CEO, joining the board of directors on January 1, 2026. Palmer will continue to serve as a strategic advisor until his retirement on March 31, 2026, to support a seamless leadership transition.
Tom Palmer has served the company for more than a decade and was only the 10th CEO in Newmont’s 104-year history. He joined Newmont in 2014 and was named Executive Vice President (EVP) and COO in 2016. During his tenure as CEO, Palmer executed transformative transactions including the Goldcorp acquisition, the Nevada Gold Mines joint venture, and the Newcrest acquisition.
Natascha Viljoen, who joined Newmont in 2023 as EVP and COO, will become the first woman to lead Newmont in its more than 100-year history. She has more than three decades of global leadership experience across multiple commodities and continents, having previously served as CEO of Anglo American Platinum and held leadership positions at Anglo American, BHP, and Lonmin.
Under Palmer's leadership, Newmont has become the world’s leading gold company and a producer of copper, zinc, lead, and silver. The company has executed transformative transactions and created a world-class portfolio of assets across key mining jurisdictions. Newmont is the only gold producer listed in the S&P 500 index and is widely recognized for its principled environmental, social, and governance practices.
In the two years since Viljoen joined Newmont, she has overseen the company’s operations, focusing on the integration of acquired assets, portfolio optimization, and talent development. With a focus on operational excellence, cost discipline, and judicious capital allocation, Viljoen aims to ensure strong financial performance and systematically unlock more value for shareholders and stakeholders alike.
As of January 1, 2026, Natascha Viljoen will lead Newmont into its next phase of growth with a clear focus on unlocking value across its world-class portfolio. She aims to shape a Newmont that is stronger, simpler, and more resilient, combining operational excellence, cost discipline, and judicious capital allocation to ensure strong financial performance.
It is evident that under Palmer's leadership, Newmont has executed transformative transactions, creating a world-class portfolio of assets across key mining jurisdictions. With Viljoen taking the helm, the company looks set to continue its growth trajectory and unlock further value for shareholders and stakeholders alike. As a result of these announcements, the company's shares have moved -0.83% on the market, and are now trading at a price of $84.54. Check out the company's full 8-K submission here.
