Mining guru Ben Magara has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Exxaro Resources, effective April 1, 2025, Mining Zimbabwe can report.
By Rudairo Mapuranga
With over 35 years of experience in the mining sector, Magara is set to lead one of South Africa’s largest coal and renewable energy companies into its next phase of growth, innovation, and sustainability.
Magara’s extensive career spans both soft and hard rock mining, covering underground and open-pit operations. He is widely recognized for his strategic leadership and operational excellence. One of his notable achievements was leading the turnaround and restructuring of Lonmin Plc, which was later successfully sold to Sibanye Stillwater, now one of the world’s largest platinum group metals (PGM) producers.
In addition to holding key leadership positions in major mining houses, Magara is the founder of Africa Mining & Metals Group (AMMG), established in 2020. AMMG focuses on battery metals and precious metals, aligning with the growing global demand for minerals critical to the energy transition. He has also served as an advisor in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Copperbelt and as an independent non-executive director at Weir Plc, a global FTSE100-listed engineering company. Magara will step down from the board of Grindrod Limited in April 2025, in line with his new role at Exxaro.
Commenting on his appointment, Magara said he is honoured to be taking up the new role.
“I am honoured to be taking up the role of Exxaro CEO and excited to have the opportunity to utilise our strong coal foundation as a base from which to expand our portfolio towards the critical low-carbon minerals essential for the future. This is in line with our diversification strategy which I have been part of as Exxaro’s Non-Executive Director and Investment Committee chairman.”
Magara’s appointment is seen as a pivotal moment for Exxaro as the company seeks to navigate sustainability challenges in the mining sector while driving innovation and growth. His deep industry expertise and proven track record in transforming companies make him a strong fit to lead Exxaro into its next chapter.
His leadership comes at a crucial time when the global mining industry is increasingly focused on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives. Exxaro has already made strides in integrating sustainability into its operations. With Magara at the helm, the company aims to strengthen its position in responsible mining while expanding efforts in renewable energy and green projects.
As a Zimbabwean professional, Magara’s rise to this prestigious position highlights the significant contributions Zimbabweans continue to make in the global mining industry. His appointment also underscores the growing influence of African leadership in shaping the future of mining across the continent and beyond.
Magara was named Zimbabwe’s most influential person in the Mining Industry by this publication in 2019.
