Mining major Rio Tinto has announced the resignation of CEO Jean-Sebastian Jacques, iron-ore CEO Chris Salisbury and group executive of corporate relations Simone Niven, following the Juukan Forge rock shelters debacle.
The resignations come after the August publication of the Board Review of Cultural Heritage Management, undertaken in response to the destruction of the rockshelters in May this year.
The company has announced that Jacques will remain in the role as group CEO until the end of March next year, or until a suitable successor has been appointed, allowing business continuity to be maintained.
Salisbury would step down with immediate effect, and will leave Rio at the end of December this year, with current rail, port and core services MD Ivan Vella to replace him on an interim basis, following a handover period.