More mystery surrounds planned succession of Mineral Resources CEO Chris Ellison with no mention of timeline

Mineral Resources chair Mal Bundey says plans are afoot to find a new boss to replace Chris Ellison, but a succession timeline has been tossed out the window. In November, MinRes committed to an “accelerated” succession with the aim of finding a replacement for Mr Ellison by mid-2026 following a flurry of scandals that tarnished his leadership. The company at the time said it would replace its co-founder and chief executive within “12 to 18 months”. But presentation notes used by Mr Bundey in meetings with investors and proxy advisers last month said Mr Ellison’s planned exit was being “reviewed” and would be determined by the best interests of shareholders. MinRes in response to queries from The West Australian last month said the November commitment was unchanged. On Thursday, the MinRes chair of less than two months said he appreciated shareholders “are looking for clarity on succession planning” in regards to Mr Ellison. “My focus as chair is on ensuring that Chris’ succession is robust and carefully planned in the best interests of our shareholders and our people,” Mr Bundy said in a letter to shareholders accompanying the release of MinRes’ full-year financial results. “This must be a process, not an event. “Chris remains integral to this process, working closely with the board and myself to ensure it is conducted in an orderly, professional manner with Chris’ support.” There was no mention of timelines or dates for the succession to occur and Mr Ellison did not mention any succession plans in his letter to shareholders on Thursday.