South 32 has announced that Matthew Daley will join the company as Deputy CEO on 2 February 2026 and will assume the role of CEO when Graham Kerr steps down from the role later in 2026.
The appointment of Daley follows a comprehensive global search by the South 32 Board, which included the evaluation of internal and external candidates.
“As we embark on this leadership transition, I want to recognise the outstanding contribution Graham has made over a decade of service through the company’s demerger from BHP and the subsequent transformation of its portfolio,” says South32 Chair Karen Wood.
“As inaugural CEO, Graham has been instrumental in establishing South32’s values-based culture, building a quality leadership team, and implementing our strategy, underpinned by a disciplined approach to capital allocation and cost management. His safety-focused leadership has enabled the ongoing delivery of our global, multi-year Safety Improvement Program which remains core to the pursuit of improvements in our safety performance.
“Graham will continue to lead the company through the transition period which will give Matthew the opportunity to get to know our people, our stakeholders and our many operations around the world before taking the helm.
“It has been an honour to be part of South32 and lead the business through its first ten years. From defining the company’s purpose, strategy and values, to transforming its portfolio and setting it up for long term success, I’m proud of all we have achieved since 2015.
“When Matthew assumes the role, he will bring fresh leadership to continue South32’s transformation into the next decade. In the meantime, I remain focused on leading the business in the execution of our strategy, including the work to deliver a step change in our safety performance and the ongoing transformation of our portfolio towards minerals and metals critical to the global energy transition,” states South32 CEO Graham Kerr.
Biography
Matthew Daley is an executive in the mining and metals industry with more than 20 years’ experience spanning underground and open cut mining, smelting, refining, projects and commodity trading. He has held leadership roles around the world in operations, regional management, and as a corporate executive across a range of commodities and disciplines.
Daley is currently the Technical and Operations Director at Anglo American plc and a member of the executive leadership team. His previous roles include Group Head of Mining at Anglo American, Executive General Manager for Glencore’s Canadian copper division, Project Head at Minera Alumbrera for the Agua Rica Project in Argentina, Trader for Xstrata based in Dubai, and Mine Manager for Xstrata at the Mount Isa Copper Mine in Queensland, Australia. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Mining) (Hons) from the University of South Australia. He is currently based in the United Kingdom and intends to relocate to Australia in his role with South32.
“As we embark on this leadership transition, I want to recognise the outstanding contribution Graham has made over a decade of service through the company’s demerger from BHP and the subsequent transformation of its portfolio,” says South32 Chair Karen Wood.
“As inaugural CEO, Graham has been instrumental in establishing South32’s values-based culture, building a quality leadership team, and implementing our strategy, underpinned by a disciplined approach to capital allocation and cost management. His safety-focused leadership has enabled the ongoing delivery of our global, multi-year Safety Improvement Program which remains core to the pursuit of improvements in our safety performance.
“Graham will continue to lead the company through the transition period which will give Matthew the opportunity to get to know our people, our stakeholders and our many operations around the world before taking the helm.
“It has been an honour to be part of South32 and lead the business through its first ten years. From defining the company’s purpose, strategy and values, to transforming its portfolio and setting it up for long term success, I’m proud of all we have achieved since 2015.
“When Matthew assumes the role, he will bring fresh leadership to continue South32’s transformation into the next decade. In the meantime, I remain focused on leading the business in the execution of our strategy, including the work to deliver a step change in our safety performance and the ongoing transformation of our portfolio towards minerals and metals critical to the global energy transition,” states South32 CEO Graham Kerr.
Biography
Matthew Daley is an executive in the mining and metals industry with more than 20 years’ experience spanning underground and open cut mining, smelting, refining, projects and commodity trading. He has held leadership roles around the world in operations, regional management, and as a corporate executive across a range of commodities and disciplines.
Daley is currently the Technical and Operations Director at Anglo American plc and a member of the executive leadership team. His previous roles include Group Head of Mining at Anglo American, Executive General Manager for Glencore’s Canadian copper division, Project Head at Minera Alumbrera for the Agua Rica Project in Argentina, Trader for Xstrata based in Dubai, and Mine Manager for Xstrata at the Mount Isa Copper Mine in Queensland, Australia. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Mining) (Hons) from the University of South Australia. He is currently based in the United Kingdom and intends to relocate to Australia in his role with South32.