Rio Tinto’s board has selected Dominic Barton to succeed Simon Thompson as the company’s new chairman. Dominic will join the Board from 4 April 2022 and will be appointed Chairman at the conclusion of Rio Tinto Limited’s annual general meeting on 5 May 2022. Simon Thompson will step down as a non-executive director of Rio Tinto and as chairman at the same time on 5 May 2022, having served as chairman for four years and as a non-executive director since 2014.
Barton, a Ugandan-born Canadian, spent more than 30 years at McKinsey & Company, including nine as global managing partner and six as Asia chair. Most recently, he has been Canada’s Ambassador to China since 2019. He brings a wealth of global business experience having advised clients in a variety of industries, including banking, consumer goods, high tech and industrials, as well as a deep understanding of geopolitics. sustainability and corporate governance.
“It is a great honour to succeed Simon as Chairman of Rio Tinto. As I return to the private sector, I am excited to join a company with world-class people and assets as it navigates a changing competitive landscape and seeks to emerge as a leader in the climate transition. I look forward to working with Jakob and the Board to implement a strategy that puts decarbonisation at the heart of the business and positions Rio Tinto as a leader in addressing complex global issues, while building and maintaining trust with host communities,” says Barton.
Dominic’s previous corporate governance work includes being Chairman of Teck Resources, a non-executive director of Singtel Group and a non-executive director of Investor AB. In addition, he has held a number of leadership positions in the public sector, including chair of Canada’s Economic Growth Advisory Council and chair of the South Korean President’s International Advisory Committee on the National Future and Vision. His business acumen and knowledge of the public sector position him to provide critical guidance and oversight to Rio Tinto’s leadership team during a pivotal time for the company.
For his part, Jakob Stausholm, Rio Tinto CEO, adds that “I am very much looking forward to working with Dominic in our efforts to continue to strengthen Rio Tinto, particularly by drawing on his vast experience in Asia, both commercially and diplomatically” and Sam Laidlaw reiterates that “the Board is delighted to have appointed such an outstanding individual and I know that Dominic will lead the Rio Tinto Board with distinction. He has an impressive track record, with extensive and wide-ranging commercial and diplomatic expertise and a deep understanding of the link between business, government and society”.
