The Mosaic Co. said May 13 that its board of directors has elected James "Joc" O’Rourke, currently executive vice president – operations and chief operating officer, to succeed James Prokopanko as president and CEO, effective Aug. 5, 2015. After that date, Prokopanko will serve as senior advisor until his planned retirement on Jan. 4, 2016.
"I am quite proud of our accomplishments during Mosaic’s first decade and am confident that Joc will help lead Mosaic to new heights," Prokopanko said. "It has been a great privilege to serve as CEO and help build the world’s leading crop nutrition company alongside some of the most talented people I have ever known. I deeply appreciate the outpouring of support I received during my illness last year, and I am happy to be healthy today. I plan to enjoy my good health with my family."
O’Rourke, 54, has served as Mosaic’s executive vice president – operations and COO since 2012, and joined the company as executive vice president – operations in 2009. Prior to joining Mosaic, he was president, Australia Pacific, for Barrick Gold Corp., the largest gold producer in Australia, where he was responsible for the Australia Pacific Business Unit, consisting of ten gold and copper mines in Australia and Papua New Guinea. Before that, he held various management, engineering and other roles in the mining industry in Canada and Australia. O’Rourke holds a bachelor’s degree in mining and mineral engineering from the University of British Columbia, and an MBA from INSEAD in Fontainebleau, France.
Mosaic said no other changes to the senior leadership team are anticipated at this time.
At Mosaic’s 2015 annual meeting of stockholders May 14, Prokopanko was re-elected to the board for a term of one year, expiring at Mosaic’s 2016 annual meeting. Following his retirement, he will continue to serve on the board through his current term.
The board also expanded its size from 12 to 13 seats, and elected O’Rourke to fill the newly created vacancy and serve as a director for a term expiring at the 2016 annual meeting. He will not serve on any board committees.