Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO) share price on watch after chair quits

Rio Tinto Limited (ASX: RIO) shares are on the rise following news the company’s chair Simon Thompson will leave the board at this year’s annual general meetings. At the time of writing, the Rio Tinto share price has climbed 2.09% to $129.84.

The mining giant revealed the move before market open on Wednesday, with the senior directors of Rio Tinto Limited and Rio Tinto plc (LON: RIO) to lead a search for a new chair.

Thompson had faced a torrent of public and shareholder pressure over the past eight months for his handling of the Juukan Gorge disaster.

Rio Tinto destroyed the historically and culturally significant Western Australia site in May, despite protests from Indigenous groups and archaeologists.

The company later…