'Some think I'm a left-wing loony': Cutifani's goal to remake mining
Loquacious Anglo American CEO Mark Cutifani traces his proselytising for a more people-centred industry back to a multicultural Wollongong childhood.
“There was a bit of a European community in Wollongong," says Anglo American chief executive Mark Cutifani. "Still, someone with a name like Cutifani, you were usually in fights every second day." Domenico Pugliese
In 1974, in the NSW steel town of Wollongong, a 16-year-old half-Italian, half-Irish sports nut had just got his lucky break. The super-keen soccer player had been offered a professional deal, paying the grand wage of $5 a week. Mark Cutifani excitedly took the contract home for his dad to sign.
“I got a three-hour lecture from my old man,” Cutifani, now 62, reminisces. "He said, ‘You’re not going to be a professional soccer player. In Australia you can’t even buy lunch as a professional soccer player.'"
Hans van LeeuwenEurope correspondentHans van Leeuwen covers British and European politics, economics and business from London. He has worked as a reporter, editor and policy adviser in Sydney, Canberra, Hanoi and London. Connect with Hans on Twitter. Email Hans at hans.vanleeuwen@afr.com
