Kamoto Copper Company has appointed Yannick Makola as Director General, marking the first time a Congolese national has led the company since its creation. The official announcement was made by KCC, a Glencore-majority-owned copper and cobalt operation in Kolwezi, Lualaba Province.
Makola joined KCC in February 2020 as General Manager Processing, responsible for the safe operations of two sites with over 2,400 full-time employees and a budget of over $600 million per annum. He subsequently served as General Manager Operational Excellence and Technology from February 2022 to February 2023, with overall responsibility for transforming Glencore Copper Africa operations to achieve full potential and improved productivity through continuous improvement methodologies. A ten-month assignment as General Manager Processing at Mutanda Mining followed, before he returned to KCC as Head of Integrated Operations in November 2023 — reporting directly to the Managing Director and CEO with responsibility for integrated planning, the transformation office, operational excellence and technology, risk management, and artisanal mining matters. He was appointed Chief Operating Officer in May 2025, with full accountability for mining, processing, and projects across the asset.
Prior to KCC, Makola held senior roles at MMG Limited, South32, BHP, and Sasol. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, a Master's degree in Technology Management from the University of Pretoria, and completed the Chief Operating Officer Programme at INSEAD.
