The global gold sector was jolted this week by a cascade of major developments not seen in decades.
It began with the sudden departure of Mark Bristow from Barrick Mining (TSX: ABX) (NYSE: B). The long-time executive, who had pledged in May to stay until 2028 to oversee projects such as the $9-billion Reko Diq copper and gold mine in Pakistan, stepped down abruptly. Barrick quickly named Mark Hill as interim chief while it searches for a permanent replacement.
Bristow, a South African known for his blunt style and penchant for risk-taking, took the helm of Barrick in 2019 after orchestrating its merger with Randgold, where he had generated a 4,000% return. But his tenure at Barrick frustrated some investors, as the Toronto-based miner has struggled to match rivals’ performance despite record-breaking gold prices.
Barrick has also been mired in disputes, including a tax standoff in Mali that cost…
