Anglo American Plc, the world’s second-biggest mining company, announced Tuesday that Kansas University graduate Cynthia Carroll would become the company’s chief executive officer.

Carroll, who received her master’s degree in geology from KU in 1982, will join the London-based company’s board in mid-January and succeed CEO Tony Trahar on March 1. Her base salary will be $1.68 million.

Carroll had spent the past 18 years at Alcan, the world’s second-largest aluminum company. She had been president and chief executive officer of Alcan’s Primary Metal Group for the past five years.