World News – AU – Rio Tinto appoints Jakob Stausholm as CEO after the Aboriginal cave explosion crisis

The mining giant Rio Tinto has appointed CFO Jakob Stausholm as its next chairman.

Mr Stausholm, who joined the miner in 2018, is replacing outgoing CEO Jean-Sebastien Jacques, who resigned after the company’s disastrous decision, a 46. 000 year old Aboriginal heritage blown up in the Juukan Gorge in Western Australia year.

The decision to appoint Denmark-born, London-based Mr. Stausholm as CEO went against the expectations of analysts and shareholders that Mr. Jacques’ successor would most likely be from outside the company and be an Australian citizen.

In the aftermath of the Juukan Gorge disaster, the board of the double-listed Anglo-Australian company came under increasing pressure from investors and politicians to forge a closer relationship with Australia, the country that accounts for most of its profits.

Before joining Rio Tinto, Mr. Stausholm held managerial positions at A. . P. . Moeller-Maersk, Facility Service Provider ISS, Statoil and Royal Dutch Shell, where he held various positions in Europe, Latin America and the Asia-Pacific region for 19 years.

Rio Chairman Simon Thompson said Mr. Stausholm’s strategic and commercial expertise, strong values ​​and collaborative leadership style were « ideal qualities for our next CEO ». .

« Jakob has already made a significant contribution to the Group’s performance in his role as CFO, » he said. “He has a proven track record as a senior executive with extensive industry experience and resources in strategy development and technology, and finance and risk management. ”

The departure of Mr Jacques, announced by the board in September, followed months of escalating pressure from Aboriginal groups, top shareholders and government leaders over the destruction of the Juukan Gorge site by Rio Tinto, where two culturally significant rock shelters were demonstrably human Occupation since at least 46. 000 years.

The board of directors said at the time that Mr. Jacques, 48, would remain until his successor was appointed or until March 31. March, whichever time was earlier would stay as CEO.

Rio Tinto, CEO, Jean-Sébastien Jacques, CFO, CFO