VOL. 09 | ISSUE 3 | Fall 2026
The Scoop
Better Together
As I approach the completion of the first year in my current role, I’ve spent a great deal of time visiting sites, meeting with employees and listening. Those conversations have reinforced something I have long believed about Freeport: Our people are deeply committed, highly capable and genuinely invested in the success of this company.
That commitment was evident following the tragic loss in July of our colleague Charles McCargish, a valued member of the Morenci team for 19 years. I am heartened, but not surprised, by the outpouring of support for Charles’ family and our Morenci colleagues from team members across the company. The expressions of kindness and compassion, which continue today, are hallmarks of the people who work for this great company.
Charles’ passing also is a reminder that safety must remain our highest priority. While we continue to make progress, any injury is one too many, and the loss of a colleague reinforces why we must remain vigilant every day. That means using our Fatal Risk Management tools effectively, verifying critical controls, reducing exposure to risk through proper planning and execution, and continuing to improve safety through design and engineering controls.
There are encouraging signs that these efforts are making a difference. Through the first half of 2026, our total recordable incident rate was 0.83, ahead of our target of 0.90, and as of mid-September, we are on track to have fewer high-risk incidents this year compared with 2025. That said, we must never let our guard down.
Beyond safety, I am encouraged by how teams across the organization are working together and sharing learnings more consistently. Across Freeport, maintenance standards are improving, project execution is strengthening, and expectations for performance and accountability continue to rise. Common approaches to reliability monitoring and equipment performance are helping sites learn from one another and apply successful practices more broadly.
That work is producing results. In the second quarter, North America copper production increased over the first quarter, and both our mining and milling rates exceeded forecast. It was only the second time since 2022 that we have achieved both in the same quarter.
More than ever, this is a time for us to continue coming together. During my visits to sites, I often remind employees that we are better together than we are individually.
When we share knowledge, align around common goals, trust one another and hold ourselves accountable to the same standards, we become stronger than any individual site, department or function could ever be on its own.
The progress we are seeing today is the result of that collective effort. While there still is important work ahead, I am optimistic about where we are going and what we can achieve together.
As the end of 2026 nears, let’s continue looking out for one another, working together and keeping safety at the center of everything we do.
