Rio Tinto CEO to step down following destruction of Aboriginal sites
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E-mail Xinhua, September 11, 2020
SYDNEY, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- Jean-Sebastien Jacques, chief executive of mining giant Rio Tinto, will resign from his position following mounting pressure over the destruction of ancient Aboriginal sites by the company in May.
The iron ore miner said in a statement on Friday that the decision was made by "mutual agreement" following the destruction of the Juukan rock-shelters in the Pilbara mining region of Western Australia, which were believed to hold 46,000 years worth of human history.
Two other senior executives will also step down, according to the company statement.
Rio Tinto has been under mounting pressure to sack the three executives by Aboriginal groups and top shareholders, with hefty fines imposed on the three deemed inadequate and a failing of executive accountability
"What happened at Juukan was wrong and we are determined to ensure that the destruction of a heritage site of such exceptional archaeological and cultural significance never occurs again at a Rio Tinto operation," Rio Tinto Chairman Simon Thompson said. Enditem
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