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LONDON - Mining giant Rio Tinto (NYSE:RIO) PLC revealed upcoming changes to its board of directors, as confirmed by Chair Dominic Barton. The company is set to see the departure of several long-serving members as part of a planned transition.
At the conclusion of the Rio Tinto Limited Annual General Meeting (AGM) in May 2025, Director Sam Laidlaw will step down. Laidlaw, who joined the board in February 2017, has contributed as the Chair of the People & Remuneration Committee and as the Senior Independent (LON:IOG) Director. Ben Wyatt is slated to take over as Chair of the People & Remuneration Committee, while Sharon Thorne will assume the role of Senior Independent Director.
Later in the second half of 2025, Simon Henry will also retire from the board. Since April 2017, Henry has played a crucial role as the Chair of the Audit & Risk Committee, a position he took on in May 2019. Thorne is set to succeed Henry as Chair of this committee upon his departure.
Furthermore, Kaisa Hietala will resign at the May 2025 AGM due to increasing potential conflicts of interest with her non-executive directorship at Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM), particularly in light of Rio Tinto’s expanding Lithium business. Hietala, who joined the board in March 2023, has been recognized for her valuable insights into energy transition and business transformation.
The board changes are part of a strategic transition within Rio Tinto, which had expanded to 14 directors during a period of integrating new members. With the transitional phase nearing completion, the company is adjusting its board composition accordingly.
These board changes are in line with the company’s obligations under UK regulatory requirements and were announced as part of Rio Tinto’s commitment to transparency. The information is based on a press release statement from the company.
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