FORMER Sibanye-Stillwater CEO Neal Froneman has been appointed chair of Copper 360, bringing one of South Africa’s best-known mining executives into the junior copper producer as it seeks to stabilise operations and return to profitability. Froneman’s appointment as independent non-executive director and chair, reported by News24 today, is subject to standard screening procedures. He replaces Rupert Smith, a long-standing chair who has retired from the board to reduce his commitments. Copper 360 said Froneman would bring extensive operational and executive experience, knowledge of global commodity markets and a record of value creation through acquisitions. His arrival comes at a critical juncture for Copper 360, the JSE’s only pure copper play, which has undergone significant financial and operational restructuring amid funding constraints, heavy losses and leadership turnover, including the February departure of former CEO Graham Briggs and the June resignation of CFO Ferdinand Nel.