The Globe and Mail reports in its Tuesday edition Barrick's top mining operator is stepping down, putting an end to the company's head-scratching co-president model after just one year. The Globe's Rachelle Younglai writes Jim Gowans will now serve as an adviser to the chairman until his retirement in December. Barrick's other co-president, Kelvin Dushnisky, will become the miner's sole president. The management shuffle comes one year after former Goldman Sachs executive John Thornton became chairman and axed the chief executive officer position and replaced it with two co-presidents. Mr. Thornton's co-president move was designed to flatten the company's management structure and create more accountability. However, the co-presidents model confused investors. Mr. Thornton also surprised investors when he appointed a former British military commander, Richard Williams, to serve as chief of staff. Mr. Williams will now serve as Barrick's chief operating officer. "We expect some trepidation as investors become accustomed to the current changes," BMO analyst Andrew Kaip said in a note. Although Mr. Dushnisky appears to be the sole executive at the helm, Mr. Thornton is in control.