3rd Mar 2021 06:06
(Alliance News) - Rio Tinto PLC on Wednesday said Chair Simon Thompson will not seek re-election as a non-executive director at the 2022 annual general meeting.
In addition, Michael L'Estrange, a non-executive director, will retire from the board at the conclusion of the 2021 AGM following significant surgery in February.
The Anglo-Australian miner said Senior Independent Directors Sam Laidlaw and Simon McKeon will now therefore jointly lead the search for Thompson's successor as chair.
Thompson said: "I am proud of Rio Tinto's achievements in 2020, including our outstanding response to the Covid-19 pandemic, a second successive fatality-free year, significant progress with our climate change strategy, and strong shareholder returns. However, these successes were overshadowed by the destruction of the Juukan Gorge rock shelters at the Brockman 4 operations in Australia and, as chair, I am ultimately accountable for the failings that led to this tragic event."
For Rio Tinto, 2020 will be best remembered for the outcry and regulatory scrutiny that followed the miner blowing up a 46,000-year-old Aboriginal heritage site to expand the Pilbara iron ore mine in Western Australia. Following the incident, which took place in May, Jean-Sebastian Jacques resigned as chief executive, replaced by Jakob Stausholm, who had been chief financial officer.
Rio Tinto shares closed 2.0% higher in Sydney on Wednesday at AUD129.75 each.
By Evelina Grecenko; [email protected]
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