Rio Tinto Names Dominic Barton to Succeed Chairman Simon Thompson

Rio Tinto PLC on Monday named Dominic Barton, Canada's Ambassador to China, to succeed Simon Thompson as chairman of the world's second biggest mining company by market value.

Mr. Barton, who has been a Canadian ambassador since 2019, spent more than three decades at McKinsey & Co. including as global managing partner and Asia chairman, Rio Tinto said.

He will join Rio Tinto's board on April 4, 2022, and be appointed as chairman following the miner's Australian shareholder meeting on May 5, the company said.

Mr. Thompson, who has held the role of chairman for four years and been a director since 2014, will leave the board on May 5, Rio Tinto said.