Rio Tinto appoints new iron-ore chief in major organisational overhaul

JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Diversified miner Rio Tinto incoming CEO Jean-Sébastien Jacques on Tuesday unveiled a new organisational structure and executive team, which included a new head for its iron-ore division.

Chris Salisburg, who was currently acting copper and coal CEO, was appointed CEO of the iron-ore division, while Andrew Harding would leave the group on July 1, after almost 25 years with the business.

Jacques, who would take up the CEO position next month when Sam Walsh retired, announced that Rio Tinto’s organisational structure would include four product groups – aluminium, copper and diamonds, energy and minerals, and iron-ore, as well as a new growth and innovation group, which would focus on future assets and technical support.

The iron-ore division, which Salisburg would head from Perth, Australia, would exclusively focus on Rio Tinto’s iron-ore operations in Western Australia.

The Iron Ore Company of Canada would fall under the energy and minerals division, which Alan Davies headed from London, in the UK. This division also included Rio Tinto’s coal, uranium, salt, borates and titanium dioxide businesses.

Alfredo Barrios, based in Montreal, Canada, would remain as CEO of the aluminium product division, which included Rio Tinto’s bauxite, alumina and aluminium businesses.

The copper and diamonds division would combine the group’s two marketing-led businesses into a single product group to help maximise technical and underground mining expertise. Arnaud Soirat, who was currently the president and CEO of the aluminium primary metal business, would join the executive committee and would be based in London.

Stephen McIntosh, the acting group executive for technology and innovation, would head the newly formed growth and innovation division. He would be based in Brisbane, Australia.

In addition, reflecting Rio Tinto’s increased focus on health and safety, accountability for safety as a discrete unit would sit with an executive committee member for the first time. Joanne Farrell, currently the global head of health, safety, environment and communities, would take on the role of group executive for health, safety and environment and would be based in Perth. Farrell, who had over 35 years’ experience in the mining sector, would also become MD of Australia.

Jacques said the new executive team was a diverse, experienced group, representing seven nationalities.

“Each new team member has more than 20 years’ experience in the resources sector, which complements the deep expertise of the existing executive team.”