Rio Tinto announced that Mr John Varley has been appointed senior independent director of the boards of Rio Tinto plc and Rio Tinto Limited.

He will succeed Mr Andrew Gould who, as previously announced, will retire from the boards at the conclusion of the 2012 annual general meetings on 10 May.

Mr John Varley, who was appointed to the boards on 1 September 2011, will continue in his role as chairman of the remuneration committee.

Mr Jan du Plessis, chairman of the boards of Rio Tinto, becomes a member of the remuneration committee with immediate effect.