Robert Michael "Bobby" Godsell (born 14 September 1952 in Johannesburg) is a retired South African businessman and the former CEO of South African gold mining company AngloGold Ashanti, a position he held from 1998 to 2007. He was the Non-Executive Chairman of Eskom from 2008 to 2009 and was appointed to the National Planning Commission of South Africa by former South African President Jacob Zuma on 30 April 2010. His departure from Eskom in 2009 was under controversial circumstances, caused by a board room struggle with the company's CEO, Jacob Maroga. Godsell decided to resign while Maoga was later sacked. Godsell found himself accused of racism but was defended by both NUM (National Union of Mineworkers) and the ANC (African National Congress). Biography Godsell completed a Master of Arts degree at the University of Cape Town, followed by a bachelor's degree at the University of Natal. He became an executive director of Anglo American in 1991. He served at the South African Chamber of Mines, first as a vice-president and later as its president. He was also chairman of the World Gold Council from 2001 to 2002. Bobby Godsell was appointed CEO of the gold and uranium division of Anglo American in July 1995 and CEO of AngloGold in April 1998. As CEO, he oversaw, alongside Sam E. Jonah, the merger of AngloGold and the Ashanti Goldfields Corporation, announced on 16 May 2003 and completed on 26 April 2004, to form AngloGold Ashanti. Godsell announced his retirement on 31 July 2010 and retired from his position as CEO of AngloGold Ashanti on 30 September 2007, being replaced by Australian Mark Cutifani. He stated that, after 34 years in corporate life he was looking forward to exploring new ways of being a constructive citizen in his country, South Africa. He returned from retirement in 2008, when he became the non-executive chairman of Eskom but resigned from the position in 2009. He remains a non-executive director of the Anglo American Corp., a position he has held since 1991. He is also the chairman of Business Leadership South Africa and has been appointed to the National Planning Commission (NPC) by President Jacob Zuma on 30 April 2010. His resignation from Eskom came amidst a board room power struggle in the utility company between Godsell and CEO Jacob Maroga. Maroga was heavily criticised for power shortages, a record loss of R9,7 billion in the