ERG appoints Shukhrat Ibragimov as new CEO

Eurasian Resources Group (ERG), a Luxembourg-based natural resources company, has appointed Shukhrat Ibragimov as its new CEO, succeeding Benedikt Sobotka, who stepped down.

With his deep dedication to ERG’s values and its people, Shukhrat Ibragimov brings broad expertise from extensive top-level roles.

Sobotka stepped down after over a decade of dedicated service. Sobotka has facilitated a seamless handover and will remain available to the group.

The transition in leadership marks an exciting new chapter for ERG, which is committed to advancing its operations and further enhancing its contribution to responsible resource development. Ibragimov has been working at ERG for a decade, starting from the shop floor. With his deep dedication to ERG’s values and its people, Ibragimov brings broad expertise from extensive top-level roles.

These include his tenure as Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the ERG Kazakhstan management company, Member of the Board of Directors of ERG S.à r.l., and, most recently, as Chairman of the Board of Directors.

Under Sobotka’s leadership, the group achieved remarkable growth and success, such as the launch of the Metalkol RTR project in the Democratic Republic of Congo, one of the world’s largest sustainable cobalt producers, and the development of the Pedra de Ferro-FIOL-PPorto Sul integrated mining, railway, and port project in Brazil.

In Kazakhstan, Sobotka oversaw major initiatives, including the commissioning of the ERG Green chromium tailings reprocessing facility and the building of a wind power plant. The company also founded, in cooperation with the World Economic Forum, the Global Battery Alliance, which now includes more than 180 members, spanning businesses, governments, and NGOs.

Sobotka said: “I am grateful for the opportunity to have led ERG over the past decade, and I would like to thank the shareholders, the board of directors, and the whole team for their cooperation and for their trust. Having worked closely with Shukhrat for many years, I can say that his unique skillset and passion for the group perfectly equip him to take ERG to the next and very promising stage of its journey. I am helping to ensure a smooth transition and will support ERG going forward.”

Ibragimov said: “ERG has a strong identity and an incredible team of highly professional, talented individuals. I am honoured to have been appointed as ERG’s CEO, and I am inspired by what the future holds for the roup. Alijan Ibragimov, who passed away in 2021, is not only my father but also one of the founding fathers of ERG. He was deeply committed to the group, and I share that same commitment. Looking ahead, we will seek to capitalise on ERG’s key strengths and prioritise sustainable growth, aiming to deliver long-term success for all our stakeholders.”