Amid other similar commentary from London-based media, the CityAM reported that the “last bastion of male-only boards at a blue-chip company fell” with Merrin’s appointment on Friday.

A former CEO of Canadian thermal coal producer Luscar, Merrins is also an existing director of New York-listed Stillwater Mining.

“She has also recently been proposed by activists for the boards of MFC Industrial and Cliffs Natural Resources,” Glencore said.

“She was a director of CML Healthcare, then Toronto-listed, from 2008-2013, latterly as chairman and also of Enssolutions, a mine tailings solutions company, and NB Power.”

Glencore chairman Tony Hayward, who at the annual general meeting in May promised a female director would be recruited by year-end, said he was delighted.

“Patrice's in depth experience of operating across the resources sector will help strengthen the board's ability to work with the opportunities and challenges presented by the global extractive industry,” he said.

“Her record of non-executive director appointments, activist involvement and industry advisory board service is also an excellent complementary skill set to our board.”