Sam Walsh: Rio Tinto Big Boss

One of the largest mining companies in the world, Rio Tinto appointed Sam Walsh as CEO in January 2013. Walsh has a new challenging position to say the least. He replaced the former CEO Tom Albanese after Rio Tinto had write-downs of $22 billion in two years.

Walsh did not start out in the mining sector. Before joining the company he spent twenty years in the automotive industry at General Motors and Nissan Australia. An Australian citizen, Walsh went to Brighton Grammar School in Melbourne.  He earned a Bachelor of Commerce from Melbourne University. Walsh also completed a Fellowship Program at Kettering University in Michigan, USA.

At Rio Tinto Walsh has held a number of senior positions.  He was chief executive of the Aluminum group from 2001 to 2004.  During 2004 to 2009 he oversaw the rapid expansion of the Iron Ore group. Walsh led the successful mining operations and expansions in Pilbara, Western Australia. Under his leadership the productive Pilbara iron ore business developed to account for over 80 percent of Rio Tinto’s net earnings.

Rio Tinto and its shareholders are hoping Walsh can spread his profit making talents to the rest of the company.