They will however remain until the end of the year to ensure a smooth transition.
The resignations come as the gold miner is negotiating with the Tanzanian government over a tax dispute and ban on exports of its mineral concentrates.
Acacia Mining’s top executives have quit barely two weeks after the holding firm Barrick Gold struck a $300 million deal with Tanzania to resolve a tax dispute.
Acacia, which operates Buzwagi, Bulyankhulu and North Mara gold mines in the country, announced Thursday that its chief executive Brad Gordon and the chief financial officer Andrew Wray have resigned, but will remain until the end of the year to ensure a smooth transition.
“Mr Gordon will be returning to Australia for family reasons, while Mr Wray is pursuing an opportunity elsewhere,” the firm said in a statement.
Mr Gordon will be replaced by Peter Geleta, the head of organisational effectiveness, as the acting CEO, while Jaco Maritz, the finance general manager, replaces Mr Wray.
“Both appointments will be effective from 1 January 2018,” the firm said.
Tax dispute
The resignations by the two executives come as the UK-based gold miner is negotiating with the Tanzanian government over a tax dispute and ban on exports of its mineral concentrates.
Barrick, which holds a 63.9 per cent stake in Acacia, late last month struck a deal with the Dar es Salaam that would see the miner cede 16 per cent stake to the government, pay $300 million in tax arrears, split economic benefits from the business halfway and infrastructure development.
But Mr Wray, speaking to analysts, said that Acacia would not be able to make an upfront $300 million payment.
Acacia’s chairman Kelvin Dushnisky, while thanking the exiting officials, said the Board would continue to support the new acting executives and management team as the firm to deliver its operational targets “while seeking a resolution to the situation in Tanzania”.
The Tanzania's largest miner reported that gold production for the third quarter fell to 191,203 ounces, down 8.3 per cent quarter-on-quarter.
