Gold Fields Limited
Reg. 1968/004880/06
24 St Andrews Road
Parktown, 2193
Postnet Suite 252
Private Bag X30500
Houghton, 2041
South Africa
Tel
+27 11 644-2400
Dir
+27 11 644-2460
Fax +27 11 484-0639
www.goldfields.co.za
Enquires
South Africa
Willie Jacobsz
Tel +27 11 644-2630
Fax +27 11 484-0639
Nerina Bodasing
Tel +27 11 644-2460
Fax +27 11 484-0639
North America
Cheryl A Martin
Tel +1 303 796-8683
Fax +1 303 796-8293
M E D I A R E L E A S E
Chris Thompson To Retire As Chairman of Gold Fields
Johannesburg, October 31, 2005: At a meeting of the board of Gold Fields
Limited (GFI: JSE, NYSE), held on October 30, 2005, Christopher M T
Thompson formally notified the board of his intention to retire as chairman
and a member of the board with effect from the end of the annual general
meeting of the Company, which will be held in Johannesburg on Thursday,
November 17, 2005.
The board unanimously elected Alan J Wright (64), currently the deputy
chairman of Gold Fields, to succeed Thompson as non-executive chairman.
Thompson in early 2005 indicated his intention to step down as chairman of
Gold Fields after the defeat of the Harmony bid. “I leave confident in the
knowledge that Gold Fields has now settled down and is stronger for the
experience, and well focused on the new challenges that lie ahead,” said
Thompson.
Referring to the appointment of Wright as his successor he said: “Alan is a
veteran of the gold mining industry and well equipped to step into the role of
Chairman, and is committed to the strategy of growing the Company
internationally.”
The board thanked Thompson for his leadership over the past seven years
and especially for the role that he played in building Gold Fields into a truly
global company. “During his seven years at the helm he directed Gold Fields
from being a largely South African company, producing just more than 2
million ounces of gold per year and with a market capitalization of less than
R7 billion, to become a truly global producer of well over 4 million ounces of
gold per year and a market capitalization in excess of R45 billion. He made a
lasting contribution in shaping the fortunes of the modern Gold Fields.”
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Notes to Editors
Thompson joined Gold Fields as an independent non-executive director in
May 1998. He was appointed as chairman and chief executive officer on
October 7, 1998, a position he held until June 30, 2002, when, on his
recommendation, Ian Cockerill was appointed to succeed him as chief
executive officer. Thompson remained as chairman from July 1, 2002.
Alan Wright first joined the board of Gold Fields Limited as deputy chairman
at the inception of the Company late in 1997. Before that he served as chief
executive officer of Gold Fields of South Africa (GFSA), in which capacity he
was instrumental in the creation of Gold Fields Limited through the merger of
the gold interests of GFSA and Gencor.
Directors: C M T Thompson* (Chairman), A J Wright (Deputy Chairman), I D Cockerill
†
(Chief Executive Officer),K Ansah
#
, G J Gerwel, A
Grigorian°, N J Holland
†
(Chief Financial Officer), J M McMahon
†
, G R Parker
‡
, R L Pennant-Rea
†
, P J Ryan, S Stefanovich°,T M G
Sexwale, B R van Rooyen, C I von Christierson
‡
American,
†
British, *Canadian,
#
Ghanaian, °Russian
Corporate Secretary: C Farrel