Fortescue executive was ‘very wise’ to quit, says rival mining boss

afr.com:

Interim Newcrest Mining chief executive Sherry Duhe has taken to social media to assure former Fortescue chief financial officer Christine Morris that she made a “very wise” decision to quit the iron ore miner last month.

Ms Morris had been chief financial officer of Fortescue’s mining division for less than two months when her exit was announced to the ASX on the evening of August 31.

Interim Newcrest boss Sherry Duhe says Christine Morris was wise to exit Fortescue. Dion Georgopoulos

Ms Morris’ exit came in a chaotic week for Fortescue that included the exit of former Reserve Bank deputy Guy Debelle and the woman who hired Ms Morris, former Fortescue mining chief executive Fiona Hick.

In her first public comments on the matter, Ms Morris told her LinkedIn followers that she had returned to the US city of Houston after discovering the job at Fortescue was not what she expected.

“I have left my position as CFO of Fortescue as the role was not what I expected. It was not an easy decision to make, but I believe the right one considering the circumstances,” Ms Morris wrote on LinkedIn.

“I am very grateful to have worked with wonderful people, including former CEO Fiona Hick and the team she assembled.

“As I close this brief chapter, I am excited to be reunited with my family in Houston and to explore new possibilities and challenges.”

Ms Morris’ post garnered more than 170 reactions from her social media connections, including from Ms Duhe, who has been interim boss of Newcrest since Sandeep Biswas left the gold miner suddenly in December.

Ms Duhe posted a comment beneath Ms Morris’ LinkedIn update: “Best of luck to you in your next steps Christine, and indeed a very wise decision!!”

Ms Duhe previously worked at Woodside,