Marna Cloete
President | Ivanhoe Mines
Marna Cloete has been the President of Ivanhoe Mines since April 2020, leveraging over 20 years of expertise in strategic finance, resource development, and organizational transformation. Since joining Ivanhoe Mines in 2006, she has played a vital role in the company’s evolution, notably serving as Chief Financial Officer from 2009 to 2020. During this time, Marna’s financial acumen and visionary leadership laid the groundwork for Ivanhoe Mines’ sustainable growth and global success.
Marna has been instrumental in driving some of the mining industry’s most significant achievements. Under her leadership, Ivanhoe Mines successfully developed and launched production at the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), one of the world’s largest and highest-grade copper projects. She also guided the reopening of the Kipushi mine, renowned for its ultra-high-grade zinc, copper, germanium, and silver deposits, and continues to oversee the development of the Platreef Project in South Africa, the world's largest precious metals development, which includes palladium, platinum, nickel, copper, and gold.
Her leadership extends beyond operations to strategic partnerships that have transformed Ivanhoe Mines’ footprint on the global stage. Marna played a pivotal role in forging joint ventures with Zijin Mining and partnerships with companies such as CITIC Metal and a Japanese consortium led by Itochu. Under her guidance, Ivanhoe raised critical funding, including a US$490 million equity offering in December 2023 and a US$750 million debt package to fuel expansion in January 2024. She also positioned Ivanhoe Mines as the first company to utilize the Lobito Atlantic Rail Corridor for mineral exports, unlocking cost efficiencies and international trade opportunities.
A champion of education and local empowerment, Marna also spearheaded the establishment of the Kamoa Centre of Excellence in October 2023. This higher-education facility, launched in collaboration with the DRC government and President Félix Tshisekedi, is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of mining leaders in Africa.
Before joining Ivanhoe Mines, Marna honed her expertise at PwC, specializing in the mining and metals sector, and held a senior reporting position at Group Five Construction Ltd., a publicly traded South African construction firm. She is a Chartered Accountant (SA) and holds a Master’s Degree in Taxation from the University of Pretoria.
Globally recognized for her leadership, Marna serves on the Executive Committee of the International Copper Association. She has also contributed as an Independent Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee for Centamin plc. Her exceptional contributions to the mining industry have cemented her reputation as one of the foremost leaders in the global resources sector.