FOLLOW THE LEADERS: THE LATEST EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENTS

KEEP UP WITH THE LATEST EXECUTIVE MOVEMENTS ACROSS THE MINING SECTOR, FEATURING RIO, SACOME, VHM AND WEIR.

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A series of executive changes has been made at Rio Tinto, with new chief executive Simon Trott wasting no time in reshaping the business.

The company will operate under three core product groups: iron ore; aluminium and lithium; and copper.

Matthew Holcz has been appointed chief executive of iron ore, leading a portfolio that unifies Rio's Western Australian operations with the Iron Ore Company of Canada and, once complete, the Simandou project in Guinea.

The company said this will combine "proven performance" with future potential, while sharing best practices and technology across the global portfolio.

Lithium will shift into the aluminium group under Jérôme Pécresse, alongside Atlantic and Pacific aluminium operations. Rio said the move strengthens downstream processing and productivity initiatives, including its Safe Production System.

Katie Jackson continues to lead copper, which the company said is well placed for the energy transition, with projects in Mongolia, the US and Chile.

The shake-up also sees the departure of long-serving executives Kellie Parker and Sinead Kaufman.

Trott said the simpler structure will drive "new standards of operational excellence and value creation", with stronger accountability and disciplined capital use.

The South Australian Chamber of Mines & Energy (SACOME) has welcomed its interim chief executive officer (CEO) Nicola McFarlane.