Press Release

Rio Tinto chairman

20 April 2009

Jan du Plessis assumes the role of chairman of the boards of Rio Tinto with effect from today, 20 April 2009.

He joined the boards of Rio Tinto as a non executive director on 1 September 2008 and his appointment as chairman was announced on 18 March 2009.

As previously announced, Paul Skinner retired from the Boards as chairman and a non-executive director at the conclusion of the Rio Tinto Limited annual general meeting today.