Coronado Global Resources Inc. (CRN) has announced the appointment of its current Chief Financial Officer, Barend (Barrie) van der Merwe, as the company’s new Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director. The transition is scheduled for August 1, 2026. This leadership change follows a recruitment process aimed at positioning the Brisbane-based business for improved operational performance and a focus on returning to profitability.

The company stated that the board selected the incoming leader based on his deep understanding of current operations and his experience in business restructuring. The primary mandate for the new chief will be to steer the organisation back toward consistent profitability while prioritising the reduction of corporate debt to create greater strategic flexibility for the future.

Founder and interim leader Gerry Spindler will step down from his temporary executive role but will continue to serve as a non-executive director on the board. Reflecting the internal nature of this transition, the company also confirmed that Sandeep Deoji will step into the role of interim Chief Financial Officer starting August 1, 2026, holding the position until a permanent replacement is appointed.

Under his new employment contract, the incoming executive will receive a base salary of AU$1,200,000 per annum. To support retention and transition efforts, the agreement includes specific incentive payments of AU$350,000 scheduled for December 2026 and another AU$350,000 in December 2027. These arrangements are designed to align the incoming executive's tenure with the board’s medium-term objectives for the business.

As the company prepares for this change, the board maintains its focus on safety culture and business efficiency. The incoming CEO will lead these initiatives, tasked with managing the long-life assets that supply metallurgical coal to the steel industry and energy coal within the Queensland market.

Read the full announcement: Appointment Chief Executive Officer