Swann Global has undertaken a most interesting study on behalf of a major resource house. The purpose was to understand the reasons why people leave major mining corporations to join smaller or midcap organizations, be they mining, service, engineering or metal trading companies. The research was focused on people at the General Manager level or above who have left their former employer over the past three years.

We met with more than 80 senior executives in mining centres around the world. They were in Australia, North and South America, Europe, Africa and Asia and came from all of the major mining companies.

• Were at GM level or above in a major mining company
• Have left there in the past three years
• Left to join a small to midcap mining company or a mining industry related company be it in service, equipment, engineering, trading or whatever industry

A second group with whom we met were Chairman and Chief Executives of small and midcaps who had looked to the majors for talent. Their perspectives on this group of executives and the value that they bring to the smaller company put the interviews that we conducted into a context.