Former Barrick Gold president and chief executive Greg Wilkins

Toronto, Canada --- MININGREVIEW.COM --- 18 December 2009 - Barrick Gold Corporation ‒ the international gold industry leader with a portfolio of 26 operating mines and a pipeline of projects located across five continents ‒ has announced that its former president and chief executive Greg Wilkins has died

In a statement issued here, the company confirmed that Wilkins had died after an 18-month battle with cancer. He went on medical leave in March 2008, and officially stepped down as president and CEO last July, taking on the role of executive vice chairman. He was replaced on an interim basis by chairman Peter Munk, and Aaron Regent was named CEO in January this year.

Wilkins was most recently executive vice-chairman of Barrick Gold Corporation, after serving as president and chief executive officer from 2003 to March 2008. He had been a member of the company's board of directors since 1991. Over the course of his career Greg held a succession of increasingly senior roles, including chief financial officer in the early 1990s.

As president and CEO of Barrick, Wilkins re-energised the company's leadership and set it on a disciplined path to deliver consistently exceptional performance. During his tenure Barrick achieved some of the most significant growth accomplishments of its first 25 years. He took the lead in executing Barrick's acquisition of Placer Dome Inc., a bold move that vaulted Barrick to its industry position today as the world's leading gold miner and one of Canada's most prominent companies.

Wilkins is survived by his wife, Vera, and children, Mark and Lauren.