* Credible and respected leaders needed - analyst

* Acting chairman, minister say Maroga no longer CEO

* Minister says proper steps were taken to resolve crisis

(Adds government minister comments, paragraphs 11-12)

By Agnieszka Flak

JOHANNESBURG, Nov 12 (Reuters) - South African power utility Eskom said on Thursday it would start looking for a new chief executive officer after Jacob Maroga quit the post, ending a long leadership battle at the troubled state-owned group.

The crisis at Eskom [ESCJ.UK] could however still unnerve mining firms and foreign investors, uncertain whether the company will be able to supply enough power to run mining operations after the national grid ground to a near halt early last year.

The loss of Maroga and of Eskom's chairman, Bobby Godsell, this week raised questions over the government's ability to run state-owned firms as key roles at various enterprises are still unfilled while the companies struggle to resolve internal battles.

Eskom's acting chairman, Mpho Makwana, told a news conference that he had been entrusted to run the company until the appointments of a new chairman and CEO and that the government stood fully behind the group's board.