Rio Tinto chairman finally quits after scandal

RIO Tinto chairman Simon Thompson today fell on his sword after accepting he was “ultimately accountable” for the mining giant’s disastrous decision to blow up an ancient Aboriginal site in Australia.

His exit follows that of chief executive Jean-Sebastien Jacques and two other other top executives in the wake of the scandal at Juukan Gorge last May.

Thompson said he was proud of the firm’s work in 2020 but added: “However, these successes were overshadowed by the destruction of the Juukan Gorge rock shelters and, as chairman, I am ultimately accountable for the failings that led to this tragic event.”

Separately, the non-executive director Michael L’Estrange will also retire after this year’s shareholder meeting.

L’Estrange wrote an internal review into the scandal described by a senator as an “unsatisfactory piece of work… full of mea culpas and corporate lingo”. Rio Tinto cited a need to reduce his workload after “significant surgery” as the reason for his departure.

Jamie Lowe, CEO of the National Native Title Council, welcomed the move but said at least one Aboriginal executive should be brought in as a replacement.

“It’s no mean feat to get rid of your CEO, your chairman, other executives, other board members, all in six months. Rio Tinto is not going anywhere so it’s critical we get those First Nations voices in there to make sure they are doing the right thing.”

Thompson’s departure in 2022 will mean FTSE-100 heavyweights BT, Rio and Schroders are all now seeking new chairmen.