Board appointment

Rio Tinto PLC
01 December 2004


Board appointment


Richard Goodmanson, executive vice president and chief operating officer of E.I.
du Pont de Nemours and Company, has been appointed to the boards of Rio Tinto
plc and Rio Tinto Limited with effect from 1 December 2004.

Mr Goodmanson, who is a United States citizen, was born in Australia and
educated at universities in both countries.  He holds degrees in civil
engineering, economics, commerce and business administration.  During his career
he has worked at senior levels for McKinsey & Co., PepsiCo and American West
Airlines where he was president and CEO.  He joined DuPont in early 1999.

In his current position he has responsibility for the non-US operations of
DuPont, with a particular focus on growth in emerging markets, and he played a
major role in the recent restructuring of DuPont's businesses.

For further information, please contact:

LONDON                                               AUSTRALIA

Media Relations                                      Media Relations

Lisa Cullimore                                       Ian Head

Office:  [phone]                        Office:  [phone]

Mobile: [phone]                         Mobile: [phone]

Investor Relations                                   Investor Relations

Peter Cunningham                                     Dave Skinner

Office:  [phone]                        Office:  [phone]

Mobile: [phone]                         Mobile: [phone]

Richard Brimelow                                     Susie Creswell

Office:  [phone]                        Office:  [phone]

Mobile: [phone]                         Mobile: [phone]

Website: www.riotinto.com

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