Rosh Pinah Zinc has appointed Francisco Ballesteros as its new General Manager, placing him at the helm of one of Namibia’s largest underground base-metals operations as the mine focuses on operational excellence, responsible mining, and long-term value creation.
The company announced that Ballesteros has joined the operation as its most senior operational leader, in which he will provide strategic direction and champion safety, operational excellence, people development, and sustainable value creation across the mine.
According to Rosh Pinah Zinc, Ballesteros brings more than a decade of international mining leadership experience spanning mine operations, finance and business improvement.
During his career, he has held senior positions including Mine General Manager, Country Finance Director and Business Improvement Lead.
The company said Ballesteros has built a reputation for developing high-performing teams, strengthening safety culture and improving operational performance.
He has also worked closely with employees, contractors, trade unions, business partners, host communities and other stakeholders to promote collaboration and responsible mining practices.
His leadership philosophy, the company said, is centred on operational excellence, continuous improvement, disciplined execution, and the creation of sustainable value through people.
According to his LinkedIn profile, Ballesteros most recently served as General Manager of Greece Operations at Eldorado Gold Corporation between March 2022 and May 2026.
Before that, he held several senior leadership positions at the company, including Senior Operations Business Partner and Operations Manager.
Earlier in his career, he spent more than five years with Newmont Corporation, where he served as Acting General Manager, Business Improvement Manager and Finance Director for Canada and the United States. He also held a series of senior management positions with Goldcorp, including Mine General Manager, following earlier roles in operations and finance.
The appointment comes as Rosh Pinah Zinc continues to strengthen its operational leadership following the completion of major investment projects that support the mine’s long-term future as one of Namibia’s key zinc producers.
