Rio Tinto chairman Simon Thompson will step down within the next year, bowing to pressure over the destruction of the 46,000-year-old Juukan Gorge caves in Western Australia.
The blasting of the Indigenous heritage site – and Rio Tinto’s initial response to the scandal – prompted severe backlash from Indigenous groups, company shareholders and political leaders.
Mr Thompson said he took responsibility for the Juukan caves destruction, which he called a source of “deep regret”.
“As chairman, I am ultimately accountable for the failings that led to this tragic event,” he said in a statement.
“While I am pleased with the progress we have made in many areas, the tragic events at Juukan Gorge are a source of personal sadness and deep regret, as well as being a clear breach of our values as a company.”
The decision comes after a board-led review of the incident initially determined no one should be stood down.
The leader of the review, Rio director Michael L’Estrange, also announced on Wednesday he would step down from the board.
