Rio Tinto has announced the impending departure of its Chief Executive, Jakob Stausholm, who will step down later this year following a succession process. Stausholm joined Rio Tinto in 2018 as Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer before taking on the role of Chief Executive in January 2021.
During his tenure as Chief Executive, Stausholm worked to realign Rio Tinto’s strategy with opportunities presented by the energy transition, paving the way for a decade of growth. He will remain in his position and on the Board of Directors until a successor is appointed. The Nominations Committee is currently conducting a rigorous selection process to find his replacement.
Rio Tinto Chair Dominic Barton praised Stausholm’s leadership, stating: “Under Jakob’s leadership, Rio Tinto has restored trust with key stakeholders, aligned our portfolio with the commodities where demand growth is strongest, built a diverse and talented management team, and set a compelling growth trajectory. Our focus on these things is undiminished and our strategic priorities are unchanged.”
Stausholm expressed gratitude for his time leading the company: “It has been an absolute privilege to lead Rio Tinto, one of the great mining and materials companies in the world. I would like to thank the deeply dedicated and talented people across the organisation that together have raised both operational performance and project execution.”
The announcement was authorized for release by Andy Hodges, Rio Tinto’s Group Company Secretary.
