UPDATE 1-Gold Fields says CEO Ian Cockerill resigns

(Adds further details, updates share price)

JOHANNESBURG, March 31 (Reuters) - Gold Fields Ltd (GFIJ.J) said on Monday that its chief executive officer, Ian Cockerill, had resigned with effect from May 1, causing its shares to drop over four percent.

Nick Holland, the company's chief financial officer, will succeed Cockerill, the world's number four gold miner said in a statement.

Gold Fields shares dropped 4.14 percent to 113.50 rand at 1145 GMT.

"Clearly the market is not liking it at all, " said Andrew Todd, a trader at BoE Private Clients.

"He's been with the company for a number of years in the CEO role ... his resignation brings a little bit of uncertainty to the company."

Cockerill, who has served as Gold Fields CEO for the past, six years will be joining a company outside the gold industry, Gold Fields said.

Terence Goodlace, currently head of South African operations, will be appointed to the new position of chief operating officer, while a new CFO will be recruited to replace Holland.

Gold Fields added that its executive vice president of corporate development, John Munro, has resigned to take up the position of CEO for a new uranium company.

The uranium company was created through a $420 million transaction between gold miner Harmony (HARJ.J), Pamodozi Resources Fund, private equity firm First Reserve and AMCI Capital. (Reporting by Serena Chaudhry; Editing by Paul Bolding)