[10] After leaving high school in 1976, he joined Coal Cliff colliery and enrolled in the University of Wollongong to complete a degree in Mining Engineering.

[12] He was also the winner of numerous awards including the Atlas Copco Travelling Bursary for the top mining student in Australasia in 1982.

[14] On 17 September 2007, he joined AngloGold Ashanti as a director of the company, and was appointed chief executive officer on 1 October that year.

Cutifani was credited with dismantling AngloGold Ashanti's significant and toxic hedge book, allowing the company to benefit fully from the much higher gold spot price.

[16] In January 2013 it was announced that Cutifani would become the new chief executive of Anglo American plc, starting his new role on 3 April 2013, replacing Cynthia Carroll.

● Over his 9+ year tenure at Anglo American was the leading major diversified mining company, delivering an average annual total shareholder return of 22%.

[21] Reports were afoot that GM, Mitsui, and the Saudi Public Investment Fund were interested buyers of a 10% stake.

[22] Vale spun out its metals business as a separate ringfenced entity headquartered in Toronto, with an independent board chaired by Cutifani.

The parent company's chief executive Eduardo Bartolomeo stated that Cutifani could help the division explore a future “liquidity event”.

[22][23] In early 2023, the parent company earned 80% of its profits in its South American iron mines, and the balance from its Base Metals group.