Rock Solid Strategy: Rio Tinto’s Bold New Structure
Rio Tinto streamlines operations into three core divisions and refreshes its executive team in a bold bid to unlock long-term growth and shareholder returns.

Rio Tinto has entered a new phase in its long corporate history, unveiling a sweeping reorganization of its operating model and executive leadership team. Effective immediately, the mining giant will be streamlined into three world-class product groups: Iron Ore, Aluminium & Lithium, and Copper. This strategic pivot is designed to sharpen accountability, maximize efficiencies, and accelerate shareholder returns.
Chief Executive Simon Trott described the changes as a turning point, underscoring the company’s mission to marry operational excellence with safe, sustainable, and profitable growth. The new structure, he said, will ensure Rio Tinto concentrates resources where they can deliver the greatest value while staying aligned with the global energy transition and long-term demand for critical minerals.
Iron Ore Consolidation
Iron Ore remains the backbone of Rio Tinto, and under the new model all of the company’s iron ore operations will be unified. This includes the powerhouse Pilbara mines in Western Australia, the Iron Ore Company of Canada, and, upon completion, the Simandou project in Guinea. Matthew Holcz has been appointed Chief Executive of the Iron Ore group, bringing over two decades of experience and leadership rooted in both international operations and the Pilbara heartland.
This consolidation is expected to unlock synergies across safety practices, technology deployment, and operational know-how. For shareholders, it means the proven strength of Rio’s established operations will be coupled with the long-term growth potential of Simandou, one of the world’s richest undeveloped iron ore deposits.
