Toronto-listed Equinox Gold said on Tuesday Greg Smith stepped down as CEO and director, with president and COO Darren Hall appointed to the top role, effective immediately.

Smith, a founding executive and shareholder, led Equinox Gold from its inception in 2017 and helped transform the company into a multi-asset gold producer. He will be succeeded by Hall, who joined Equinox through its recent merger with Calibre Mining and previously served as Calibre’s CEO.

“This is a natural transition point. I'm extremely proud of what we have accomplished since founding Equinox Gold in 2017, having built the company into a leading gold producer with operations across the Americas and a clear pathway to producing over one-million ounces annually,” Smith said in a statement.

“It is the right time for a proven operator like Darren to take the helm. He brings the leadership, focus, and operational expertise to optimizs this expanded portfolio and unlock its full potential. It has been an honour and privilege to work alongside the talented Equinox Gold team, Ross Beaty, and our board to build this outstanding company.”

Hall, who has four decades of global mining experience, held senior roles at Kirkland Lake Gold, Newmarket Gold and Newmont. As CEO of Calibre, he increased production, reduced costs, and generated strong free cash flow, culminating in Calibre’s merger with Equinox in June 2025.

“I'm honoured to lead Equinox Gold at such a pivotal moment in the company's evolution and I'm excited to work alongside our talented team to unlock the full potential of Equinox Gold's exceptional portfolio,” Hall said.

“Our focus will be on disciplined execution, operational excellence, and delivering consistent, reliable performance as we enter this next phase of growth and optimisation, building on the solid foundations Greg and his team have established.”

Chairperson Beaty praised Smith’s contributions. “Greg is a founding executive and shareholder of Equinox Gold whose leadership and strategic vision have been instrumental in growing the company from concept into the multi-asset, multibillion-dollar gold producer it is today. I want to sincerely thank Greg personally, and on behalf of the board of directors, for his vision, dedication, and leadership.”

In a related move, David Schummer has been appointed COO. Schummer, who was previously executive VP of operations, has over 35 years of experience in the mining sector. His prior roles include COO at Perseus Mining and president of Ma’aden Gold and Base Metals.