KONKOLA Copper Mines (KCM) has announced that its chief executive officer Christopher Sheppard has retired and will be leaving the company on November 12, 2021.

In a statement, Tuesday, KCM provisional liquidator Milingo Lungu said Enock Mponda had been appointed as acting CEO and would also act as CEO for KCM SmelterCo Limited while Moses Chilambe had been appointed to act as CEO for Konkola Mineral Resources Limited (KMRL).

“Konkola Copper Mines Plc (KCM) informs its business partners and stakeholders that the Chief Executive Officer, Mr Christopher Sheppard, has retired and will be leaving the Company on 12th November 2021. Mr Sheppard has been CEO of KCM since 18th March 2019 and took on additional roles of CEO for Konkola Mineral Resources Limited (KMRL) and interim CEO for KCM SmelterCo Limited following the restructuring and reorganisation of KCM into the two operating units, effective 1st February 2021,” Lungu stated.

“Mr Enock Mponda has been appointed as acting CEO for KCM and will act as CEO for KCM SmelterCo Limited in addition to his substantive role. Mr Moses Chilambe has been appointed to act as CEO of KMRL. Prior to being employed as KCM chief executive officer, Mr Sheppard, who has a career in mining spanning over 37 years, had worked in executive roles for some major mining firms in South Africa, including the Anglo American, Anglo Platinum, Lonmin Platinum and Murray Roberts Cementation, as well as being the chief operating officer at AngloGold Ashanti Limited.”

Milingo said Sheppard would be remembered for superintending over KCM during challenging times which culminated into the pronouncement of the liquidation process of KCM on 19th May 2019.

“At KCM, Mr Sheppard will be remembered for superintending over the Company during extremely challenging times and some uncertainty, which culminated into the pronouncement of the liquidation process of KCM on 19th May 2019. Chris was a thoughtful and forthright CEO who inspired employees and business partners and their workers to steer KCM in the right direction under difficult circumstances. Credit should be given to him for his stewardship in keeping KCM afloat and we shall remember him for his commitment to inspire the growth of the Company and keeping employees aligned to the cause of KCM, as well as fostering a cordial working relationship between the Company and its numerous stakeholders and the government,” said Milingo.