Simon Trott, who is currently in charge of Rio Tinto’s Iron Ore sector, will become CEO on August 25, 2025.
The statement is made as the business gets ready for a new era that will be influenced by the need for materials essential to low-carbon technology, renewable energy, and electric vehicles.
Following Jakob Stausholm’s resignation after almost five years in the top position—a time marked by business strategy changes and cultural reform—Simon was appointed.
Simon has over 25 years of expertise in the mining sector, which includes a great deal of exposure to commodities that are becoming more and more important in agendas for electrification and decarbonisation.
Simon has experience in a variety of commodities and global markets, but his most recent position was Chief Executive of Iron Ore.
He was in charge of establishing Rio Tinto’s international commercial activities while he was the group’s first chief commercial officer.
This involved fortifying the group’s commercial infrastructure and establishing strategic relationships with clients, both of which contribute to the changing needs of EV supply chains and battery-grade materials.
“I am immensely honoured to have been appointed as Rio Tinto’s next CEO, effective August 25, 2025,” Simon posted on LinkedIn.
“I am thrilled about our future and feel privileged to have the chance to head this outstanding organisation.”
“As we find better ways to provide the materials the world needs, we have so much value to unlock for our shareholders and the communities that host us—with our outstanding assets and people around the world.”
As Iron Ore’s CEO, Simon is recognised for having transformed operations, improved performance and safety, and fostered long-term stakeholder trust—all of which are critical components for a business looking to provide ethically sourced materials needed for green technologies, EV batteries, and charging infrastructure.
Dominic Barton, the board’s chair, said Simon is a remarkable leader who has a thorough understanding of mining and a proven track record of driving operational excellence and adding value across our company.
“Simon and the Board are aligned that Rio Tinto’s next phase is about unlocking significant value for shareholders from our portfolio, driven by operational performance and cost and financial discipline.”
The choice of Simon comes after a methodical two-year succession planning process run by Rio Tinto’s Nominations Committee, which Dominic chairs. Both internal and foreign applicants were taken into account.
In the end, the committee chose Simon because of his demonstrated leadership and operational discipline, which are both deemed essential to turning strategy into reality across Rio Tinto’s portfolio, particularly in sectors like lithium, copper, and aluminium that are essential to the production of electric vehicles.
Under Simon’s direction, Iron Ore became a test bed for new developments in technology, operational processes, and model optimisation.
Dominic remarks, “Under his leadership, Iron Ore has emerged as a hub of innovation for the Group, propelling technological advancement, operational excellence, and operating model optimisation—levers Simon can now bring to Rio Tinto at scale.”
Jakob guided Rio Tinto through a challenging time of strategic realignment and cultural revitalisation.
“Being in charge of Rio Tinto for almost five years, during a significant period in its history, has been an immense honour.” “Together, our talented employees from all throughout the Group have created real momentum and paved the road for ten years of successful expansion,” says Jakob.
“As the CEO of our biggest company during this period, Simon has played a crucial role in the journey; I have no doubt that the Group will continue to prosper and provide value for its stakeholders under his direction.”
As Rio Tinto intensifies its focus on materials related to low-carbon transitions, Simon will assume leadership at a pivotal moment.
These include aluminium for lightweight car frames, lithium for batteries, and copper for EV wiring and grids.
Simon emphasises in his statement that involvement and execution are necessary to build on the group’s progress.
“With discipline and focus, we can build on the progress we have made in recent years to deliver improved performance,” Simon says.
“We are in a strong position to increase value for shareholders and the communities where we operate thanks to our exceptional assets and global workforce.”
Simon continues, “I have really loved working with Jakob, and I want to personally thank him for his leadership and direction.”
“In order to shape our next chapter together, I will be paying close attention to our shareholders, customers, employees, communities, and other stakeholders as we move forward at a rapid pace.”
Rio Tinto has named Matt Holcz, who is presently the Managing Director of Pilbara Mines, as the Iron Ore division’s interim CEO while Simon gets ready to take over.
The official process of finding a long-term substitute is still in progress.
Rio Tinto is working to align its core portfolio with global sustainable energy supply networks, which is why Simon was appointed.
Rio Tinto’s leadership transition puts it in a position to impact the EV landscape from mine to market, as major automakers and battery manufacturers are under pressure to find ethical and trustworthy sources of minerals.