Managing Director, Australia

Rio Tinto PLC
14 November 2003



Date: 14 November 2003

Ref: PR328g



Managing director, Rio Tinto Australia



Brian Horwood is retiring from the position of managing director, Rio Tinto
Australia, effective 8 March 2004.  Charlie Lenegan, currently president
director of PT Kelian Equatorial Mining (KEM) in Indonesia, will replace Mr
Horwood.





Note to editors



Brian Horwood joined the Group in 1969 and held a number of senior management
positions in Australia, Papua New Guinea and the UK, including managing director
of Dampier Salt and of Pacific Coal.  He was appointed managing director of Rio
Tinto Australia in 2001.  He will continue as chairman of Coal & Allied
Industries Limited (Rio Tinto 75.7 per cent) and Energy Resources of Australia
Ltd (Rio Tinto 68.4 per cent).



Charlie Lenegan joined the Group in 1981.  He has worked in a variety of roles
in Argyle Diamonds, Kaltim Prima Coal, Dampier Salt and Pacific Coal, and on
feasibility projects in Zimbabwe. He was appointed president director of Kelian
Equatorial Mining in 2001.  He holds a BSc Economics from the University of
London and is a member of the Australian Institute of Chartered Accountants.



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