Barrick names new legal, global affairs chiefs

Barrick Mining (NYSE: B; TSX: ABX) has strengthened its leadership team with the appointment of two new members to its executive committee.

James J. McGuire has been hired as Barrick’s new chief legal and policy officer and Woo Lee as the company’s chief global affairs officer, according to a statement issued Wednesday.

The appointments reflect Barrick’s increased focus on government engagement and public policy as core capabilities that support the company’s strategy, license to operate and long-term value creation.

McGuire has over 30 years of legal experience representing leading corporations, financial institutions and individuals on a wide range of complex legal and policy matters. He joins from Greenspoon Marder LLP, where he was a litigation partner and managing partner of the firm’s New York office. Prior to private practice, he served as a federal criminal prosecutor in the Southern District of New York.

As part of the Barrick leadership team, McGuire will oversee the company’s legal, compliance, regulatory and public policy functions. Meanwhile, current chief legal officer Poupak Bahamin will become Barrick’s general counsel and chief compliance officer and will remain its the executive committee.

Lee has been with Barrick for over 11 years. He most recently served as senior vice president and head of government and corporate affairs, Asia Pacific, where he worked with government officials, business and community leaders to advance the company’s strategic objectives.

In his new role, Lee will lead Barrick’s global government affairs strategy in all markets as well as manage government and sovereign relationships, leveraging over 30 years of experience working in Washington, China and East Asia. This included a stint as a U.S. diplomat in the State Department across the APAC region.

Both McGuire and Lee will report to Barrick’s new CEO Mark Hill, whose appointment was confirmed earlier this month.

Barrick rose 0.1% to C$68.24 Wednesday afternoon in Toronto, bringing the company’s market capitalization to about C$114 billion ($83 billion).