Bock will serve as chief executive officer of Barrick’s Rest of World business, overseeing operations and projects across Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and Asia Pacific.
The portfolio produces more than two million gold-equivalent ounces annually and Barrick expects output to grow by more than 20% over the next three years.
The appointment comes as the world’s third-largest gold producer reshapes its global business while deepening its exposure to Africa’s gold and copper industries.
Africa remains a key Barrick growth engine
Africa remains central to Barrick’s portfolio, with major operations including Kibali in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Loulo-Gounkoto in Mali, North Mara and Bulyanhulu in Tanzania, and Lumwana in Zambia.
Bock, a South African mining executive, joined Barrick in 2019 as senior vice-president and chief financial officer for Africa and the Middle East before being appointed chief operating officer for the region in 2022.
During his tenure, the region recorded strong operational gains, including record throughput at Kibali, reserve growth at Loulo-Gounkoto and Bulyanhulu, and progress on the expansion of Lumwana.
Mali recovery boosts production
His appointment comes after a turbulent period for Barrick in Mali, one of Africa’s biggest gold-producing countries, where a prolonged dispute with the government disrupted operations at the Loulo-Gounkoto gold complex.
Authorities under General Assimi Goïta’s military-led government seized about three metric tonnes of gold valued at roughly $400 million, restricted exports and placed the mine under provisional administration.
Barrick subsequently reached an agreement with the government, clearing the way for operations to resume at one of West Africa’s largest gold complexes.
The restart has already supported production, with the company reporting second-quarter gold output of 796,000 ounces, above its guidance range.
Mali remains a key market for Barrick, although the shutdown reshaped the country’s gold industry, with B2Gold overtaking Barrick as Mali’s largest producer in 2025.
Zambia anchors Barrick’s copper ambitions
Meanwhile, Zambia is becoming a central pillar of Barrick’s copper strategy, with the company investing about $2 billion to expand its Lumwana mine.
The Super Pit project is expected to nearly double annual copper production from about 130,000 tonnes to 240,000 tonnes by 2028 and extend the mine’s operating life beyond 30 years. Lumwana also holds about 8.3 million tonnes of copper reserves.
Barrick says the mine has contributed more than $3.7 billion to Zambia’s economy since 2019, including $887 million in 2024 through taxes, royalties, wages and local procurement.
The expansion supports Zambia’s broader ambition to raise copper production from about 890,000 tonnes in 2025 to 3 million tonnes annually by 2031, as global demand rises for the metal used in power grids, electric vehicles and renewable energy infrastructure.
Bock’s appointment also comes as Barrick seeks to strengthen its Rest of World business through partnerships with Chinese companies across mine ownership, co-investment, equipment, technology and infrastructure.
Chairman John Thornton said those relationships give the group an advantage outside North America.
“Outside North America, our Rest of World portfolio has a distinct advantage: our ability to work with Chinese partners, including joint mine ownership and co-investment,” Thornton said.
