COO Tom van den Berg. Image from Ivanhoe.
Ivanhoe Mines (TSX: IVN) (OTCQX: IVPAF) Executive Co-Chair Robert Friedland and Chief Executive Officer Marna Cloete announced key management and board appointments.
After more than ten years in various key operational leadership positions at Ivanhoe, Mark Farren, Chief Operating Officer, will transition from his executive role to become Strategic Advisor to the board.
In his capacity as Strategic Advisor, Farren will continue to support the delivery of Ivanhoe’s next phase of organic growth, including the Platreef Phase 2 expansion and the development of the Western Forelands.
Tom van den Berg, Senior Executive, Operations at Kamoa-Kakula, will be appointed as Ivanhoe Mines’ Chief Operating Officer, effective January 1, 2026. Van den Berg will remain at Kamoa-Kakula for an interim period to oversee the ongoing operational recovery and turnaround strategy.
Van den Berg will also be responsible for building out technical expertise and operational excellence across the Ivanhoe Mines organization, with significant further personnel additions planned in the near term, the company said.
Mining industry leader Nick Popovic joins Ivanhoe Mines as a Strategic Advisor to the board.
Popovic brings a wealth of knowledge from over three decades with Glencore International AG, including significant experience in both the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Kazakhstan, and he will advise the company in terms of commercial and operational matters, as well as growth strategy.
In addition, Manfu Ma will step down from Ivanhoe Mines’ Board of Directors. Ivanhoe Mines extends its deepest appreciation to Ma for his distinguished service since his appointment in August 2019.
In his place, Ivanhoe Mines welcomes Xianwen Wu to the board of directors, effective November 26, 2025. Wu is currently the General Manager of CITIC Metal Group and has over 30 years of experience in international commodity trading and mining investment.
“The next chapters of Ivanhoe’s growth are going to be nothing short of extraordinary, and we are positioned well following the appointments of Tom van den Berg, Mark Farren, and Nick Popovic. I couldn’t be more energized and excited about what is yet to come,“ Ivanhoe Mines Executive Co-Chair, Robert Friedland said in a news release.
“I also extend my sincere thanks to Manfu Ma for his wisdom, support, and unwavering dedication in shaping the development of the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex, and in the process building Ivanhoe Mines into a world-class company with now three operating mines,“ Friedland said.
Since joining the board in 2019, Mr. Ma has been instrumental in Kamoa-Kakula’s three phases, each of which were delivered ahead of schedule. We welcome Xianwen Wu to our board, and we look forward to continuing to work with CITIC Metal on our shared vision for a bright future.”