Ian Pearce, Chief Executive Officer of Xstrata Nickel, is responsible for global nickel and ferronickel operations and projects in North and South America, Europe, Africa and the South Pacific. With an attractive portfolio of greenfield and brownfield projects, Ian’s focus is on the continuing growth of the nickel commodity business.

Prior to his appointment, Ian was Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer of Falconbridge. He joined Falconbridge in 2003 as Senior Vice President of Projects and oversaw the advancement of major projects such as the Collahuasi Transition Project, Montcalm Nickel Project, Kidd Mine D and Nickel Rim South. He also oversaw several key studies such as the feasibility for the Koniambo Nickel Project in New Caledonia.

Ian has more than 27 years of professional experience in metallurgy and mining. Prior to joining Falconbridge in 2003, he worked on Canadian oil sands projects as well as metallurgical and mining projects for Fluor Daniel in Canada, Indonesia, Chile and South Africa. He began his career working at gold mines in South Africa, and in process and project engineering.

Ian was educated in South Africa and holds an engineering HND in mineral processing and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Witwatersrand. He has also received strategic management training at Henley College in the United Kingdom.