Barrick Gold Corp. (
TSX: T.ABX,
Stock Forum) has recruited former foreign affairs minister John Baird and former top U.S. lawmaker Newt Gingrich to serve on its advisory board, the company said in regulatory filings which were reported by the Toronto Globe and Mail.
Mr. Baird and Mr. Gingrich, a former Republican speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, will join other political heavyweights including former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney on the miner’s international advisory board.
The board meets once a year and gives advice to the world’s biggest gold producer, which has operations in the Americas, Africa and Australia.
“The role of the board is to provide advice on geopolitical and other strategic issues that affect our business,” a company spokesman told the Globe and Mail. “Both Mr. Baird and Mr. Gingrich bring with them excellent credentials and experience in this regard,” he said.
Mr. Mulroney chairs the board, which also includes former U.S. and German defense officials and a former prime minister of Spain.
No compensation details for Mr. Baird and Mr. Gingrich were disclosed in the filings. However, Mr. Mulroney, who stepped down as a Barrick director last year, received more than $1-million (Canadian) for his work as an adviser and board member, the filings said.
Barrick shares were virtually unchanged Monday, easing 0.99% to $14.07.