Why the Former Vale Boss Was Chosen as PT DSI CEO: Extensive Experience and Proficiency in Indonesian

Jakarta, Kompas.com — Rosan Roeslani, the chief executive officer of Danantara and concurrently the Minister of Investment and Downstreaming, revealed the reasons for appointing Luke Thomas Mahony, former head of PT Vale Indonesia Tbk (INCO), as President Director of PT Danantara Sumberdaya Indonesia (DSI).

One of the considerations was that Luke has a strong track record. “Yes, we have many considerations as we build his track record. He also has extensive experience in multinational companies, including Vale,” Rosan said at the Istana Complex in Jakarta on Friday, 22 May 2026. “He can also speak Indonesian and indeed his wife is Indonesian,” he added.

However, the main consideration is his experience in managing companies in the minerals sector. Rosan also noted that Luke’s performance at Danantara has been very good. “But the most important thing is his trading experience, his mining experience, he has led many mineral-focused companies, and his network is strong; we also see that his work at Danantara has been very, very good,” he said.

Luke Thomas Mahony’s name is also listed as a director in Decree of Confirmation Number AHU-0039765.AH.01.01 Year 2026 dated 19 May 2026 regarding the formation of PT DSI, issued by the Directorate General of General Legal Administration, Ministry of Law.

Luke Thomas Mahony is an Australian citizen who previously served as SEVP Business Performance & Optimization at Danantara Indonesia since September 2025. He has more than 21 years of experience in the mining industry. Before joining Danantara, Mahony served as Chief Strategy and Technical Officer at PT Vale Indonesia Tbk from July 2024 to September 2025. He also held various strategic positions at Vale Base Metals, headquartered in Canada, from July 2014 to August 2024. Additionally, he worked at BHP Billiton from July 2010 to July 2014, with his last role as Manager Production Prestrip.

In terms of education, Luke Thomas Mahony holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mining Engineering from the University of New South Wales. He also holds three Master’s degrees from the same university: Master of Finance (2004), Master of Mining Engineering (2006), and Master of Geomechanics (2009).