Barrick and Newmont Change Leaders as Gold Hits a Fresh Record

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.

In contrast, the departure of Barrick’s Mark Bristow, one of the most high-profile and outspoken chief executive officers in the mining business, came as a surprise. ...