* CEO Peter Jones to retire Dec. 31

* President and COO Michael Winship steps down now

* Shares drop 4.6 percent (Adds CEO, analyst comments, background)

By Cameron French

TORONTO, Nov 12 (Reuters) - HudBay Minerals (HBM.TO: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Thursday that recently-appointed CEO Peter Jones will retire at the end of the year, and company president Michael Winship will leave immediately.

The company's shares fell on the news, finishing the session down nearly 5 percent.

Jones' announced departure comes just eight months after he began his second stint as chief executive after a heated proxy battle sparked by the company's ultimately failed attempt to take over Lundin Mining (LUN.TO: Quote, Profile, Research).

"This is a shock, I would say. A bit of a disappointment," said John Hughes, a mining analyst a Desjardins Securities.

Reached on his cell phone, Jones said his retirement did not indicate a strategic shift for the company.