LONDON -- Cynthia Carroll says she will step down as chief executive of mining company Anglo American PLC as soon as her successor is chosen.
In a statement released by the company on Friday, Carroll made no reference to reports that some investors had lost faith in her leadership and were pressing for her to go.
Carroll, a 55-year-old American, was appointed chief executive in 2007.
She says that leaving is a difficult decision, "but next year I will be entering my seventh year as chief executive and I feel that the time will be right to hand over to a successor who can build further on the strong foundations we have created."