Executive management team

RNS Number:4519F
Rio Tinto PLC
10 October 2007


Rio Tinto and Alcan name proposed Aluminium business executive management team


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 Queensland, 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.


About Rio Tinto


Rio Tinto is a leading international mining group headquartered in the UK,
combining Rio Tinto plc, a London listed company, and Rio Tinto Limited, which
is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange.


Rio Tinto's business is finding, mining, and processing mineral resources. Major
products are aluminium, copper, diamonds, energy (coal and uranium), gold,
industrial minerals (borax, titanium dioxide, salt, talc) and iron ore.
Activities span the world but are strongly represented in Australia and North
America with significant businesses in South America, Asia, Europe and southern
Africa.


The Sharing Agreement (the agreement relating to the regulation of the
relationship between Rio Tinto plc and Rio Tinto Limited following the dual
listed companies merger) provides for the public shareholders of Rio Tinto plc
and Rio Tinto Limited to vote as a joint electorate on all matters which affect
shareholders of both companies in similar ways. These are referred to as Joint
Decisions. Joint Decisions are voted on a poll. To facilitate the joint voting
arrangements, each company has entered into shareholder voting agreements. Each
company has issued a Special Voting Share to a special purpose company held in
trust by a common trustee. Rio Tinto plc has issued its Special Voting Share
(RTP Special Voting Share) to RTL Shareholder SVC and Rio Tinto Limited has
issued its Special Voting Share (RTL Special Voting Share) to RTP Shareholder
SVC. The total number of votes cast on Joint Decisions by the public
shareholders of one company are voted at the parallel meeting of the other
company.


About Alcan


Alcan Inc. (NYSE, TSX: AL) is a leading global materials company, delivering
high quality products and services worldwide. With world-class technology and
operations in bauxite mining, alumina processing, primary metal smelting, power
generation, aluminum fabrication, engineered solutions as well as flexible and
specialty packaging, today's Alcan is well positioned to meet and exceed its
customers' needs. Alcan is represented by 68,000 employees, including its joint
ventures, in 61 countries and regions, and posted revenues of US$23.6 billion in
2006. The Company has featured on the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes
consecutively since 2002. For more information, please visit: www.alcan.com.


Rio Tinto contact information:

Media Relations, London                            Media Relations, Australia

Christina Mills                                    Ian Head

Office: [phone]                       Office:  [phone]

Mobile: [phone]                       Mobile: [phone]
                                                   

Nick Cobban                                        Amanda Buckley
                                                   
Office:  [phone]                      Office:  [phone]
                                                   
Mobile: [phone]                       Mobile: [phone]
                                                   
Investor Relations, London                         Investor Relations, Australia

Nigel Jones                                        Dave Skinner

Office: [phone]                       Office:  [phone]

Mobile: [phone]                       Mobile: [phone]

                                                   Investor Relations, North America

David Ovington                                     Jason Combes

Office:  [phone]                      Office:  [phone]

Mobile: [phone]                       Mobile: [phone]


Email: [e-mail]


Website: www.riotinto.com

High resolution photographs available at: www.newscast.co.uk


Alcan contact information:


Media Relations:                                              Investor Relations:

Anik Michaud                                                  Ulf Quellmann

Tel.: [phone]                                         Tel.: [phone]

[e-mail]                                     [e-mail]


Additional information


The offer to purchase all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Alcan
for US$101 per common share in a recommended, all cash transaction (the "Offer")
is being made by Rio Tinto Canada Holding Inc. (the "Offeror"), an indirect
wholly-owned subsidiary of Rio Tinto. The Offer represents a total consideration
for Alcan common shares of approximately US$38.1 billion.


The Offer is open for acceptance until 6.00 p.m., Canadian Eastern Time, on
October 23, 2007, unless extended. The Offer is subject to a number of
conditions including valid acceptances by holders of not less than 66 2/3 per
cent of Alcan shares on a fully diluted basis and the receipt of various
governmental and regulatory approvals. The board of Rio Tinto has approved the
transaction.  The Offer is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2007.


This announcement is for information purposes only and does not constitute or
form part of any offer or invitation to purchase, otherwise acquire, subscribe
for, sell, otherwise dispose of or issue, or any solicitation of any offer to
sell, otherwise dispose of, issue, purchase, otherwise acquire or subscribe for,
any security. The Offer (as the same may be varied or extended in accordance
with applicable law) is being made exclusively by means of, and subject to the
terms and conditions set out in, the offer and takeover bid circular delivered
to Alcan and filed with Canadian provincial securities regulators and the United
States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and mailed to Alcan
shareholders.


The release, publication or distribution of this announcement in certain
jurisdictions may be restricted by law and therefore persons in such
jurisdictions into which this announcement is released, published or distributed
should inform themselves about and observe such restrictions.


In connection with the Offer, an offer and takeover bid circular as well as
ancillary documents such as a letter of transmittal and a notice of guaranteed
delivery have been filed with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities and
the SEC and an Alcan directors' circular with respect to the Offer has also been
filed. A Tender Offer statement on Schedule TO (the "Schedule TO") and a
Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 (the "Schedule 14D-9")
has also been filed with the SEC.


SHAREHOLDERS OF ALCAN ARE URGED TO READ THE OFFER AND TAKEOVER BID CIRCULAR
(INCLUDING THE LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY), THE
SCHEDULE TO (INCLUDING THE OFFER AND TAKEOVER BID CIRCULAR, LETTER OF
TRANSMITTAL AND RELATED TENDER OFFER DOCUMENTS) AND THE SCHEDULE 14D-9 AS THEY
CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE OFFER.


The offer and takeover bid circular as well as other materials filed with the
Canadian securities regulatory authorities are available electronically without
charge at www.sedar.com. The Schedule TO and the Schedule 14D-9 are available
electronically without charge at the SEC's website, www.sec.gov. Materials filed
with the SEC or the Canadian securities regulatory authorities may also be
obtained without charge at Rio Tinto's website, www.riotinto.com.


While the Offer is being made to all holders of Alcan common shares, this
announcement does not constitute an offer or a solicitation in any jurisdiction
in which such offer or solicitation is unlawful. The Offer is not being made in,
nor will deposits be accepted in, any jurisdiction in which the making or
acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the laws of such
jurisdiction. However, the Offeror may, in its sole discretion, take such action
as it may deem necessary to extend the Offer in any such jurisdiction.


The Offer is made to holders in France of Alcan common shares admitted to
trading on Euronext-Paris. An announcement including the main information
relating to the Offer documents has been prepared and released pursuant to
article 231-24 of the AMF General Regulation and contains information relating
to how and in which time limit Alcan shareholders residing in France can accept
this Offer. The offer document and the announcement prepared pursuant to article
231-24 of the AMF General Regulation, as amended on 17 September 2007, are
available free of charge to the holders of Alcan Shares registered with
Euroclear France who request it from Citi France, Global Transaction Services,
Operations department, 19 le Parvis la Defense 7, 92073 Paris la Defense. They
are also available on the internet at the following address:
www.computershare.com/Rio-AlcanFrenchofferdocument.


The Offer is made to holders in Belgium of Alcan common shares and/or
certificates admitted to trading on Euronext Brussels (the "IDRs"). A Belgian
supplement, addressing issues specific to holders of Alcan common shares and/or
IDRs in Belgium (the "Belgian Supplement") was approved by the Belgian Banking,
Finance and Insurance Commission (the "BFIC") on 2 August 2007. A notice of
extension of the Offer was approved by the BFIC on 18 September 2007. The offer
document, the Belgian Supplement and the notice of extension are available free
of charge to the investors in Belgium who request it from the Belgian branch of
Citibank International plc, Department GTS Operations, 4th floor, boulevard
General Jacques 263G, 1050 Brussels. They are also available on the internet at
the following address: www.computershare.com/Rio-AlcanBelgianofferdocument


                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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