Newcrest chairman should go, says ASA THE Australian Shareholders Association has called for the chairman of Newcrest Mining, Don Mercer, to stand down over the goldminer's poor performance since the $10 billion Lihir Gold takeover and the widely panned handling of the company's latest market update. The group representing the nation's mum-and-dad shareholders will confirm the call next week in its monthly magazine, Equity, where it will say Mr Mercer, a former ANZ Bank chief and Orica chairman, should go before Newcrest's October annual meeting.