Barrick Mining Corporation has disclosed a significant executive leadership change, naming Helen Cai as its Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, effective March 1, 2026. This transition comes as the company prepares for the departure of current CFO Graham Shuttleworth, who will relinquish his role following the disclosure and filing of Barrick’s fiscal year-end reports.
Helen Cai’s appointment is supported by a robust professional background spanning over 20 years across several critical facets of finance and strategy. Since November 2021, Cai has served on Barrick’s Board of Directors, bringing her comprehensive expertise in equity research, corporate finance, strategic planning, capital markets activities, and mergers and acquisitions. Her experience is notably rooted in sectors including mining, industrial operations, and technology, aligning closely with Barrick’s operational and market domains.
Prior to her current board role at Barrick, Cai has held senior positions at prominent financial institutions such as Goldman Sachs and China International Capital Corporation (CICC). Throughout her finance career, she has been recognized multiple times for her analytical excellence, earning accolades from StarMine, Institutional Investor, and Asiamoney. Moreover, her leadership in investment banking has been marked by award-winning transactions, underscoring her acumen in deal-making and corporate finance strategy.
Mark Hill, Barrick’s Group Chief Operating Officer and Interim President and CEO, expressed positive remarks regarding Cai’s addition to the executive leadership team. He emphasized that Cai’s extensive financial knowledge and significant experience within mining financial circles will be instrumental as Barrick seeks to enhance operational performance and deliver increased value to shareholders. Additionally, Hill extended gratitude to outgoing CFO Graham Shuttleworth for his seven years of service and leadership, acknowledging his meaningful contributions and wishing him success in his future endeavors.
In anticipation of the transition, Cai conveyed her enthusiasm about stepping into this executive role at a critical juncture for Barrick. She highlighted her commitment to working collaboratively with Hill and the broader leadership team to advance the company's strategic agenda and drive sustainable shareholder value over time.
Operationally, Barrick has recently achieved a notable development by resolving a protracted dispute with the government of Mali. This resolution has restored Barrick’s control over the Loulo-Gounkoto complex, an asset of considerable importance within the company’s portfolio. The complex had been predominantly offline for nearly two years due to this dispute, including approximately one year of suspended production. Regaining control and resuming operations at this complex marks a significant operational turnaround for Barrick.
Investors and market participants can anticipate Barrick’s forthcoming release of its full-year and fourth-quarter 2025 financial results scheduled for February 5, 2026. The release of these results will provide further insight into the company’s financial performance and operational progress during a transformative period marked by leadership changes and operational resolution in Mali.
Following the announcement of Cai’s appointment, Barrick Mining’s shares experienced a positive response, trading up 3.55% in premarket activity to a price of $50.46. This price level nears the stock’s 52-week high of $50.51, reflecting investor optimism regarding Barrick’s future direction under new financial leadership and the favorable operational developments.
Overall, Barrick Mining’s leadership reshuffle, combined with its operational progress and upcoming financial disclosures, positions the company at a pivotal point as it navigates challenges and opportunities within the mining sector to optimize value creation for its shareholders.