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Rio Tinto Makes Board Appointment in Preparation for BHP JV
06/15/2009 - Rio Tinto announces the appointment of Sam Walsh to the boards of Rio Tinto plc and Rio Tinto Limited as an executive director.
Rio Tinto announced the appointment of Sam Walsh to the boards of Rio Tinto plc and Rio Tinto Limited as an executive director, effective immediately.
Walsh currently serves as Chief Executive of Rio Tinto Iron Ore. His nomination to the Rio Tinto boards supports the recently announced agreement between Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton to establish a production joint venture covering both companies' Western Australian iron ore assets, as he will ultimately become the initial chairman of the non-executive owners' council of the joint venture.
"I am very pleased to welcome Sam to the Rio Tinto boards,” said Jan du Plessis, Rio Tinto chairman. “Sam's election is a fitting recognition of his excellent leadership of, and contribution to, the success of our iron ore group, and the wealth of experience within our business that he brings to the table.”
Walsh, 59, has been Chief Executive of Rio Tinto's Iron Ore group since 2004. He joined Rio Tinto in 1991 and has held a number of management positions within the group, including Chief Executive of the Aluminum Group from 2001 to 2004.
Rio Tinto, a leading international mining group headquartered in the UK, combining Rio Tinto plc and Rio Tinto Limited. Rio Tinto's business is finding, mining, and processing mineral resources. Activities span the world but are strongly represented in Australia and North America with significant businesses in South America, Asia, Europe and southern Africa.
