IGO managing director and chief executive officer (CEO) Peter Bradford passed away suddenly on Saturday at the age of 64.
“On behalf of the board, I wish to extend our sincerest and heartfelt condolences to Peter’s wife Vicki and his children and everyone who was fortunate enough to know Peter as we did,” IGO non-executive chair Michael Nossal said.
“The news of his death is devastating to everyone at IGO. We greatly admired Peter for not just his vision and commitment to delivering on our purpose but also for his endearing humility and enormous humanity.”
Bradford transformed IGO into the ASX-100 company it is today, and was regarded as an inspirational leader, an innovative and strategic thinker, and a compassionate mentor who was passionate about climate change and role the mining industry can play in the renewable energy transition.
Alongside his role at IGO, Bradford was the president of AMEC (Association of Mining and Exploration Company) and an active mentor for Women in Mining WA.
Bradford joined IGO, formerly Independence Group, in 2014 and has overseen significant growth and change at the company.
In the past five years, IGO’s stock has soared more than 250 per cent from just over $4 to $15.32 at close on October 14.
In June 2021, IGO purchased a 49 per cent stake in Tianqi Lithium Corporation that gave it a 25 per cent stake in the Greenbushes lithium mine and a 49 per cent interest in the Kwinana processing plant.
Greenbushes is considered the biggest hard-rock lithium mine in the world, producing a mammoth 1.14 million tonnes (Mt) of spodumene concentrate in the 2021–22 financial year (FY22).
IGO completed its acquisition of Western Areas in June 2022, which saw it complement its Nova nickel operation with the Forrestania mine, regarded as one of the country’s highest-grade nickel mines, as well as the Cosmos operation.
In his CEO address in IGO’s 2022 annual report, Bradford highlighted the company’s dedication to decarbonisation.
“In FY22, we have continued to transform our business into a uniquely positioned supplier of products critical to clean energy,” he said.
“This transformation has included a continuing improvement and development of our distinct culture, which promotes diversity, inclusion, development and care. It has included the ongoing enhancement of how we approach and manage our external stakeholders and improve our environmental credentials.
“And it has seen us further evolve our portfolio through the successful acquisition of Western Areas.”
IGO chief operating officer Matt Dusci has been appointed as acting CEO and will remain in the role as the company conducts a formal search process for a permanent CEO, considering both internal and external candidates.