Glasgow-based global engineering and mining giant Weir Group announced that chief financial officer (CFO) John Heasley is to step down to take up a new role as finance director of Anglo American plc.

“We expect John will leave Weir to start his new role by the end of the year, and the board has commenced a process to appoint his successor,” said Weir.

“Further updates on this appointment and the exact timing of John’s departure will be made in due course.

“John joined Weir in 2008, holding a number of financial and general management roles, before being appointed to the group executive as president of our former flow control division in 2014 and then to the board of directors as CFO in 2016.

“John has been a highly valued member of the board and group executive, playing a significant role in the group’s portfolio transformation into a global mining technology leader and the subsequent execution of its refreshed strategy.”

Weir Group has 12,000 employees in over 60 countries, with a presence in every major mining region of the world.

Weir said it continues to execute well and deliver on its strategy and will report its interim results on August 1, 2023.

Weir Group CEO Jon Stanton said: “I would like to thank John for his significant contribution to the group.

“Under his leadership we have strengthened our financial position and further enhanced our functional finance capability. He leaves an excellent team and a strong balance sheet.  We all wish him well for the future.

“Looking ahead, I’m excited about the prospects for Weir. Our leading capabilities, clear strategy and strong balance sheet positions us to capitalise on the growth opportunity from global decarbonisation and the adoption of new sustainable technologies in mining.

“In addition, our Performance Excellence transformation programme is enabling us to optimise the Group and further expand our margins.”

Weir Group chair Barbara Jeremiah said: “John has been an outstanding member and valued colleague on the Weir board.

“He has been a strong advocate for our inclusion, diversity and equity agenda as its executive sponsor, and has played a key role in establishing our Performance Excellence programme.

“On behalf of the board, I would like to thank John and wish him every success in his new role.

“We look forward to welcoming a new CFO to Weir to lead our finance team, and we will provide a further update on this once our process has concluded.”

Heasley said: “It has been a privilege to work at Weir for the last 15 years.

“I would like to thank my colleagues around the world for their support and friendship and I wish them and the group much continued success.”