Newmont Corp Names Chief Sustainability Officer: 3 Things to Know

Mining company Newmont Corp has promoted Suzanne Retallack (pictured, top of page) to chief safety and sustainability officer. Retallack shifts to the new role as Newmont strives to finalize the big Newcrest Mining acquisition by Q4 of 2023.

Retallack succeeds executive VP Peter Toth as chief sustainability officer. Toth continues to lead Newmont's corporate strategy, corporate development and external relations. He gains the new title of chief development officer and now leads Newmont’s commercial activities, including sales and marketing and supply chain.

Here are three things to know about Newmont and Retallack's new role...

1. Business Focus and Scale: Newmont, based in Denver, Colorado, is the only gold producer listed in the S&P 500 Index. The company, founded in 1921, also produces copper, silver zinc and lead. Newmont has roughly 14,300 employees -- of which roughly 8,000 employees listed on LinkedIn as of June 2023. The company published its 2022 Climate Report in May 2023.

Among the key business developments that Newmont is striving to navigate: Newcrest, an Australia gold mining giant that Newmont is buying for roughly US$17.5 billion, is navigating an environmental probe over alleged dust pollution, Reuters reported in June 2023. In M&A announcement from May 2023, Newmont vowed to "apply its proven sustainability practices and leadership to Newcrest’s assets."

2. Suzanne Retallack's Business Background: Retallack joined Newmont in 2019 as VP for health, safety and security. She previously held senior roles in health and safety, environment and security with Rio Tinto -- a mining company based in London, United Kingdom.

3. Executive Perspectives: In a prepared statement about Retallack's new role, Newmont President and CEO Tom Palmer said: “Suzanne has demonstrated exceptional values-based leadership throughout her career and has led significant improvements in the design and execution of health and safety systems across global operations. By combining the leadership for our safety and sustainability teams, Suzanne will help advance Newmont’s purpose and values, including creating a workplace free from harassment, assault, bullying and discrimination."

New CSO at Newmont Corp: Why Technology Partners Should Care

By 2027, 25% of Global 2000 companies will have assigned a chief sustainability officer (CSO) responsible for meeting their organization’s ESG goals and making ESG-related IT purchasing decisions, according to IDC.

Technology partners need to extend their sales, marketing, engagement and support strategies to successfully fulfill those CSO needs, Sustainable Tech Partner believes.