Tell us about Darcy the person.
I am originally from Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, a small city that’s a hub for farming, mining and recreational activities in the lake country to the north. The land of the living skies! I took a geology class in high school and was hooked, and I eventually graduated from the University of Saskatchewan with a BS Honors in Geology in 1985. Adriana Rivas Andrade and I met in Coyhaique, Chile, in 1992 and were married a few years later. We have two daughters, Natalie and Megan, and I’ve appreciated that their educations have been eclectic and international, thanks to mining. They attended school in Chile, Argentina and the U.S.
What are your hobbies?
I love to travel. (laughing) You have to love it to survive in this industry. My other hobbies include sports car track driving with my friends, sailing, scuba diving and fishing. There isn’t a lot of scuba or sailing in the high desert of Nevada, but I make it work.
What is your philosophy as a CEO?
It hasn’t always been a popular ethos, but I’ve always thought that leading from behind is a successful model. Find your best people and let them do what they’re good at. I can’t and shouldn’t be the expert on everything. My job is to keep the road clear so others and, ultimately, our company can succeed.
Do you think gold will cross the mythical $2,000 oz barrier? Why or why not
At some point, it will, and it may be this year and maybe even this month! The real question is whether it can sustain that increase. Gold is not seen as the typical hedge and safety net it once was. It still has following and many people recall when it backed currencies. They understand its value. I’m not sure the younger generations understand the connection to currencies in the past and don’t appreciate gold as an investment quite so much.
