News: FMG UPDATE 1-Fortescue Metals CFO Ian Wells to step down in latest shakeup

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Jan 9 (Reuters) - Australia's Fortescue Metals Group (FMG) said on Monday Ian Wells will step down as chief financial officer of the group at the end of this month, adding to the list of latest resignations by senior executives to hit the iron ore giant.

Wells, who joined Fortescue in 2010 and has been the CFO since 2018, leaves the iron ore giant at a time when the group is expanding into mining of critical minerals and rare-earths and is also endeavouring to transition into a green energy firm through its unit Fortescue Future Industries.

Wells' resignation is the latest in the top management departures at Fortescue, wiping out almost all of the senior executive leadership team from a year-ago period.

Fortescue said Wells resigned "to pursue other opportunities", but will continue in his current role until Jan. 31 and that the company is undertaking a process to identify a successor.

The iron ore giant had appointed former Woodside Energy (WDS) executive Fiona Hick as its chief executive officer last November, effective February 2023.