Anglo chief's exit could lead to break-up of business South Africa's Public Investment Corp (PIC), the largest shareholder, said the company's performance during Ms Carroll's six-year tenure had been "poor." Dan Matjila, chief investment officer of PIC, which has a 5.8pc stake, said: "Anglo missed opportunities in Africa and invested in poorly-performing companies." Since 2007, when Ms Carroll took charge, Anglo market capitalisation has dropped by £12bn - more than 25pc. Anglo's shares hit a three-year low in September amid spiralling costs and delays at the Minas Rio iron ore project in Brazil and a legal battle with Codelco in Chile. The company has also been hit by miners" strikes in South Africa and falling platinum prices. Today the shares rose 4.1pc to £19.33½ in the wake of Ms Carroll's resignation. She said Anglo was "very well positioned for the long-term" and there was "a lot to be proud of." Ms Carroll earned £2.17m in salary and bonuses in 2011, and has options on 578,412 shares that have a value of around £11m. Sir John Parker, the chairman of Anglo, said Ms Carroll would stay in her post until her successor was appointed. The search would "start from today." Ms Carroll's departure leaves just two women leaders among Britain's biggest companies - Alison Cooper at Imperial Tobacco and Angela Ahrendts at Burberry. Alex Vanselow, a former BHP chief financial officer "seems the most obvious candidate," according to analysts at Deutsche Bank. They argued that Chris Griffith, the new chief executive of Anglo Platinum, was the strongest internal candidate. Mick "the miner" Davis, the outgoing boss of Xstrata, was named as a potential by analysts but Anglo's Sir John said: "It wouldn't be unreasonable for me to say that we couldn't afford Mick Davis." Sir John said Ms Carroll had a "transformational" impact on Anglo, overhauling its operational structure, improving the safety record and focusing the strategy.