Rio Tinto and Alcan name proposed Aluminium business executive management team

10 October 2007

Montreal, Melbourne and London - (October 10, 2007) - Rio Tinto and Alcan today named the executive management team drawn from leaders of both companies that will form the functional and operating structure of Rio Tinto Alcan and will be instrumental in the integration. The organization is conditional, and will become effective, upon the completion of Rio Tinto's acquisition of Alcan Inc., expected in the fourth quarter of 2007.

Dick Evans, Alcan's president and chief executive offer, will become chief executive of the combined aluminium product group, Rio Tinto Alcan, based in Montreal, and will report directly to Rio Tinto's chief executive, Tom Albanese.

Tom Albanese, Rio Tinto chief executive, stated: "As we approach the closing of the transaction, it's important to hit the ground running with a strong executive team that can begin to capitalize right away on our leadership position in the aluminium industry. I am very pleased to have Dick Evans leading an outstanding team drawn from the leaders of both Rio Tinto and Alcan."

Dick Evans commented, "The new Rio Tinto Alcan executive team will be comprised of industry leaders with proven track records in their respective roles, and they are an experienced, talented, and well-respected group of professionals. I look forward to working with each of them to create a new world leader in the aluminium industry, and also as part of an extremely strong, diversified global organization. "

The leaders of Rio Tinto Alcan's Business Units, responsible for the strategic and operational performance of Rio Tinto Alcan's businesses worldwide and reporting directly to Dick Evans, will be as follows:

Steve Hodgson: President & chief executive officer, Bauxite and Alumina, Rio Tinto Alcan. His responsibilities will include bauxite mines, alumina refineries and specialty alumina businesses worldwide. The Business Unit headquarters will be located in Brisbane, Australia.

Jacynthe Cote: President & chief executive officer, Primary Metal, Rio Tinto Alcan. Her responsibilities will include all primary metal facilities and power generation installations worldwide. The Business Unit headquarters will be located in Montreal, Canada.

Christel Bories: President & chief executive officer, Engineered Products, Rio Tinto Alcan. Her responsibilities continue to include Aerospace, Transportation and Industry (ATI), Extruded Products, Alcan International Network, Engineered and Automotive Solutions, Cable, Composites, and Specialty Sheet. The Engineered Products Business Unit headquarters will continue to be located in Paris, France.

Until the completion of its planned divestiture, announced in July 2007, Packaging will report to Dick Evans and be led by:

Ilene Gordon: President & chief executive officer, Packaging, Rio Tinto Alcan. Her responsibilities will continue to include Food packaging, Beauty packaging, Tobacco packaging and Pharmaceutical packaging. The Packaging headquarters will continue to be located in Paris, France.

The Rio Tinto Alcan executive staff functions of Finance, Human Resources and Communications & External Relations, reporting to Dick Evans, will be led by:

Phillip Strachan will lead the Finance function at Rio Tinto Alcan. He will also be responsible for Business Planning and Analysis, Information Systems & Technology, and Business Improvement, as well as co-leader of the Rio Tinto Alcan integration.

Jean-Christophe Deslarzes will lead the Human Resources function at Rio Tinto Alcan. He will also be responsible for Health, Safety and Environment (HSE), as well as co-leader of the Rio Tinto Alcan integration.

Corey Copeland will lead the Communications & External Relations function at Rio Tinto Alcan. He will also be responsible for Government Relations and Sustainable Development.

Two additional functional leaders, Legal and Business Development, will be announced at a future date. Until these announcements are made, business will be conducted as usual in these areas.

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