Rio Tinto chairman leaves over destruction of Indigenous sites
After months of public backlash, Simon Thompson said he was ultimately accountable for the destruction of sacred sites at Juukan Gorge in Western Australia.
The destruction prompted protests outside Rio Tinto s offices last year
The destruction of sacred Indigenous burial sites in Australia has led to the departure of Simon Thompson, the chairman of mining giant Rio Tinto. Thompson said Wednesday that he was accountable and would not seek reelection as a board director next year. As a chairman, I am ultimately accountable for the failings that led to this tragic event, Thompson said in a statement.
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Rio chairman flags 2022 exit after Juukan Gorge âfailingsâ
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Rio Tinto chairman Simon Thompson has bowed to pressure over his handling of the Juukan Gorge scandal and will leave the company within the next year.
Mr Thompson will seek re-election at Rioâs annual meetings over the next two months, but said it would be his last year and he would spend the year focused on finding his replacement.
Rio Tinto chairman Simon Thompson will exit within a year.Â
Eddie Jim
Mr Thompsonâs exit comes after he declared in August that he wanted former chief executive Jean-Sebastien Jacques and two other executives to continue in their roles after destruction of Indigenous heritage at Juukan Gorge.
Rio Tinto chairman Simon Thompson said Wednesday he was accountable for the mining giant destroying sacred Indigenous sites in Australia to access iron ore and he will not seek reelection as a board director next year. Thompson’s announcement came after former chief executive Jean-Sebastien Jacques announced his resignation last September over the destruction in May…
Rio Tinto Ltd chairman Simon Thompson yesterday said that he was accountable for the mining giant destroying sacred Aboriginal sites in Australia to access iron ore and he would not seek re-election as a board director next year.
Thompson’s announcement came after former Rio Tinto chief executive officer Jean-Sebastien Jacques in September last year announced his resignation over the destruction of two rock shelters in Juukan George in Western Australia state that had been inhabited for 46,000 years.
The company’s successes last year were “overshadowed by the destruction of the Juukan Gorge shelters . and, as chairman, I am ultimately accountable for