Kinross Gold’s operating chief Hinze to retire

Kinross Gold Corp. says president and chief operating officer Brant Hinze will retire early next fall.

Kinross says Hinze will step down Oct. 1 and be succeeded as chief operating officer by Warwick Morley-Jepson, currently regional vice-president of the company's Russia region.

"It has been part of Brant's plan to retire in 2014 and return to his home and family in Washington state," CEO J. Paul Rollinson said in announcing the change.

"We are very pleased that he has decided to remain at Kinross until Oct. 1 to ensure a smooth transition."

Morley-Jepson has been regional vice-president of Kinross' Russia region since 2009 where he has "consistently delivered strong operating results and has been among the top performers in the company's global portfolio," Kinross said in a statement.

Prior to joining Kinross, the 35-year industry veteran held executive positions in the regional and corporate structures of multinational gold mining companies, including Barrick and Placer Dome.

Kinross is a Canadian-based gold mining company with mines and projects in Brazil, Chile, Ghana, Mauritania, Russia and United States.