Who has been appointed as the new CEO of Rio Tinto?

Simon Trott, the head of Rio Tinto's iron ore division, has been named the new CEO, replacing Jakob Stausholm.

What experience does Simon Trott have at Rio Tinto?

Trott is a veteran with over 20 years at Rio Tinto and has led the iron ore division for the past four years.

What challenges did Trott face during his tenure?

Trott faced pushback from investors due to a decline in the quality of ore in Rio's exports during his time in leadership.

What are the expectations for Trott's leadership?

Trott's appointment raises hopes for a locally domiciled CEO and is seen as a relatively safe choice given his extensive experience in the iron ore business.

What was Jakob Stausholm's role before Trott's appointment?

Jakob Stausholm was the CEO of Rio Tinto since 2020 and oversaw significant investments in lithium and expansions in iron ore and copper.

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Home > Finance > Rio Tinto appoints iron ore boss Simon Trott as CEO

Finance

Rio Tinto appoints iron ore boss Simon Trott as CEO

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®

Posted on July 15, 2025

2 min read

Last updated: January 22, 2026

Rio Tinto appoints iron ore boss Simon Trott as CEO - Finance news and analysis from Global Banking & Finance Review

Rio Tinto Names Simon Trott as New CEO Following Stausholm's Exit

By Melanie Burton and Clara Denina

MELBOURNE/LONDON (Reuters) -Rio Tinto on Tuesday named Simon Trott, the head of its iron ore division, as its new chief executive officer, replacing Jakob Stausholm, who announced his intention to step down in May.

Trott, a more than 20-year veteran at the world's biggest iron ore miner, has led the engine of the company's profit for the past four years. He will take over the duties of group CEO effective August 25.

Trott's appointment has come swiftly on the heels of the surprise news of Stausholm's departure and his appointment will raise hopes in Australia for a locally domiciled CEO.

"It's a relatively safe appointment," said Kaan Peker at RBC in Sydney.

"He knows the iron ore business very well and that's the main driver of free cashflow and earnings. Obviously he has proven himself in the eyes of the chair."

Trott brought to market Rio Tinto's biggest iron ore mine in more than a decade in Western Australia and is building out a huge programme of replacement tons.

"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," chair Dominic Barton said in a statement.

Trott, who also served as the miner's chief commercial officer from 2018 to 2021, has faced pushback from investors because the quality of ore in Rio's exports has dropped during his tenure and the miner has struggled to reach the top end of its production forecast.

Stausholm, who oversaw a big bet on lithium and expansions in iron ore and copper, was named CEO in 2020 as the miner grappled with legal, public and investor angst over the destruction of Australia's ancient Juukan Gorge rock shelters, which led to the ousting of its former CEO.

(Reporting by Sameer Manekar and Shivangi Lahiri in Bengaluru, Clara Denina and Melanie Burton in Melbourne; Editing by Sonia Cheema and Jacqueline Wong)

Rio Tinto appoints iron ore boss Simon Trott as CEO

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Rio Tinto Names Simon Trott as New CEO Following Stausholm's Exit

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