Barrick and Newmont Change Leaders as Gold Hits a Fresh Record

Mark Bristow, left, and Tom Palmer

Photographers: Dwayne Senior, Brent Lewin/Bloomberg

Newmont Corp. and Barrick Mining Corp., the world’s two largest gold producers, both announced a change of leadership Monday as the metal rallied to a fresh record of almost $4,000 an ounce.

Newmont said Tom Palmer will step down on Dec. 31 after six years at the helm, to be succeeded by Chief Operating Officer Natascha Viljoen. The transition was largely expected, according to analysts at Citigroup Inc. and Toronto-Dominion Bank.