Barrick's former chief executive officer, Jamie Sokalsky, received $6.9-million last year. He stepped down as CEO on Sept. 15, to make room for two new co-presidents. His parting cheque was not as impressive as the $11-million Aaron Regent received when he left in June, 2012. Neither man remained unemployed for long. Mr. Regent has since started his own private investment company, Magris Resources, which (along with two other companies) bought Iamgold's Niobec niobium mine in Quebec for $500-million last fall. Mr. Sokalsky, on the other hand, joined David Palmer's Probe Minerals Ltd. as chairman on Sept. 16, 2014. There, he helped Probe attract a $530-million takeover offer from Goldcorp, which closed earlier this month. He is now chairman of a Probe spinout, Probe Metals Inc. (PRB: $0.355). It has $15-million in cash and three properties in the Ring of Fire, which the company is now reviewing. The area has been receiving increased media attention this past week, after Noront Resources Ltd. (NOT: 0.52) andFranco-Nevada Corp. (FNV: $60.83) arranged to buy Cliffs Natural Resources Inc.'s (CLF: $5.06 (U.S.)) old Ring of Fire properties for $20-million. Mr. Sokalsky is also looking for potential acquisitions for Probe Metals.