Diamond miner Rio Tinto has announced that Sam Walsh, CEO of Rio Tinto Iron Ore, has been appointed to the boards of Rio Tinto plc and Rio Tinto Limited as an executive director.

In addition, diamond miner Rio Tinto announced that it has reached an agreement with diamond miner BHP Billiton to establish a production joint venture covering the entirety of both companies’ Western Australian iron ore assets. Sam Walsh is to become the initial chairman of the non-executive owners’ council of the joint venture. Walsh has been the chief executive of Rio Tinto’s Iron Ore group since 2004. He joined Rio Tinto in 1991 and has held a number of management positions within the group.

Jan du Plessis, Rio Tinto Chairman, said: "I am very pleased to welcome Sam to the Rio Tinto boards. Sam’s election is a fitting recognition of his excellent leadership of, and contribution to, the success of our iron ore group, and the wealth of experience within our business that he brings to the table.”