Chief Executive Leon Davis Announces Retirement

Rio Tinto PLC
2 November 1999


        Rio Tinto Chief Executive Announces Retirement

Leon  Davis  has  advised his intention  to  retire  as  Chief
Executive of Rio Tinto in April next year, when he will be 61.
He intends to return to Australia.

Leigh  Clifford, 52, who is currently Chief Executive  of  the
Rio Tinto Energy group will replace Mr. Davis.  Leigh Clifford
joined the Group in 1970.  He has been a director of Rio Tinto
plc since 1994 and of Rio Tinto Ltd. since 1995.

Robert Wilson will remain Executive Chairman.

Leon  Davis  has agreed to remain on the board  following  his
return  to  Australia  and  will become  non-executive  Deputy
Chairman.  Richard Giordano, who is the nominated senior  non-
executive  director  of Rio Tinto, also assumes  the  role  of
Deputy Chairman, with immediate effect.

For further information contact:

Media Relations                    Investor Relations

Alexis Fernandez                   Peter Jarvis

+ 44 207 753 2305                  + 44 207 753 2401


Note to Editors:     (1)   All  the appointments  referred  to
                           above, relate to both Rio Tinto plc 
                           and Rio Tinto Ltd.

                     (2)  Biography of Leigh Clifford is attached.


                    RICHARD LEIGH CLIFFORD

Leigh Clifford joined the former CRA mining group in Australia
in  1970,  where he worked principally in CRA's lead/zinc  and
coal operations. His previous experience included periods with
the  company's  lead  and  zinc  operations  in  Broken  Hill,
Corporate Headquarters, and various roles within Kembla Coal &
Coke in New South Wales.

Mr.  Clifford was appointed a Group Executive of CRA in  1988,
responsible  for  CRA's investments in Energy,  including  the
joint  venture with BP Amoco in the Kaltim Prima Coal  Project
in  Indonesia  and  the New South Wales  and  Queensland  coal
interests.  He was also responsible for the Kelian  Equatorial
Mining gold project in Indonesia.

In  1994  he was seconded to the RTZ Corporation PLC,  London,
and   joined   the   Board   as   a   Mining   Director.   His
responsibilities covered the company's business  interests  in
various parts of the world.

Mr.  Clifford returned to Melbourne in 1996 to take up his new
appointment  as  Managing Director, CRA Limited.  During  this
time  he was also a director of Freeport Copper & Gold in  the
US and Chairman of Comalco Ltd in Australia.

Following  the  re-organization of  Rio  Tinto  in  1997,  Mr.
Clifford  became Chief Executive Energy and has been based  in
London  since April1999. He is a Director of Rio Tinto Limited
and Rio Tinto plc.

Born in South Australia in 1947, Mr Clifford is a graduate  of
Melbourne  University  with a First  Class  Honors  Degree  in
Engineering  (Mining),  and a Master  of  Engineering  Science
Degree. He is currently a Fellow of the Australasian Institute
of  Mining  and  Metallurgy  Chairman  of  the  Coal  Industry
Advisory Board of the International Energy Agency.

He is married with 2 daughters and lives in London.