The Mosaic Co. (Plymouth Minn.; www.mosaicco.com) announced that its board of directors has elected James C. O’Rourke, currently executive vice president – operations and chief operating officer, to succeed James T. Prokopanko as president and chief executive officer (CEO), effective August 5, 2015. After that date, Mr. Prokopanko will serve as Senior Advisor until his planned retirement on January 4, 2016.
Mr. O’Rourke, 54, has served as Mosaic’s executive vice president – operations and chief operating officer since 2012 and joined the company as executive vice president—operations in 2009. Prior to joining Mosaic, Mr. O’Rourke was president, Australia Pacific for Barrick Gold Corp., the largest gold producer in Australia, where he was responsible for the Australia Pacific Business Unit consisting of ten gold and copper mines in Australia and Papua New Guinea. Before that, Mr. O’Rourke held various management, engineering and other roles in the mining industry in Canada and Australia. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mining and mineral engineering from the University of British Columbia, and a master’s degree in business administration from INSEAD in Fontainebleau, France.