RIO Tinto Group, the world’s top iron ore exporter, named the former Canadian ambassador to China Dominic Barton as its new chairman.

Barton replaces Simon Thompson, who announced his intent to retire earlier this year, after a scandal around the miner’s destruction of ancient rock shelters in Australia’s Juukan Gorge.

Barton will have the job of mending Rio’s reputation in the communities where it operates, particularly in Western Australia’s Pilbara region, home to its giant ore operations. The fallout from Rio’s actions at Juukan Gorge in that region in May 2020 led to the departure of former CEO Jean-Sebastien Jacques and other senior executives.

Barton’s experience in Beijing will be welcomed at Rio, which generates the bulk of its revenue from ore sales to China’s steelmakers. He also has more than 30 years of experience at consulting firm McKinsey & Co. He will take over from Thompson on May 5. (SD-Agencies)