Rio Tinto CEO Jakob Stausholm to step down in surprise move
Times of IndiaFriday, May 23, 2025 at 7:53:13 AM
Rio Tinto’s CEO, Jakob Stausholm, is unexpectedly stepping down later this year, catching many off guard. He took the reins in 2020 after the Juukan Gorge scandal and was credited with reshaping the company’s culture, pushing for better environmental and social practices (ESG), and steering Rio Tinto toward lithium mining—a key move for the energy transition. His sudden exit leaves uncertainty about whether the company will stay on this path.
Editor’s Note: CEO departures are always big news, but this one’s especially interesting because Stausholm was seen as a reformer. He stepped in after Rio Tinto’s reputation took a hit (remember the Indigenous heritage site blunder?) and tried to clean things up. Now, investors and industry watchers are left wondering: Will his successor keep pushing for sustainability, or will priorities shift? It’s a reminder of how much leadership changes can ripple through a company’s strategy—especially in mining, where profits and ethics often collide.
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