While Natascha Viljoen’s promotion at Newmont seems orderly and planned, Mark Bristow’s departure from Barrick came out of the blue. The world’s top two gold mining companies had major shake-ups at the top on Monday, both involving highly rated South African executives who offer striking contrasts in style. First came the news that Mark Bristow, the swashbuckling South African mining executive who founded Randgold Resources and went on to become CEO of Barrick Mining, had unexpectedly stepped down as CEO of the Canadian mining giant, which is the world’s No 2 gold producer. Mark Hill, chief of Barrick’s Latam and Pacific regions, has been appointed as an interim COO, president and CEO. Remove adsWhen someone is appointed as an “interim CEO”, it is usually a sign that the CEO stepped down in a hurry.