Rio Tinto and Alcan name proposed Aluminium business executive management team

Montreal, Melbourne and London — (October 10, 2007) — Rio Tinto and Alcan today named the executive management team drawn from leaders of both companies that will form the functional and operating structure of Rio Tinto Alcan and will be instrumental in the integration.  The organization is conditional, and will become effective, upon the completion of Rio Tinto’s acquisition of Alcan Inc., expected in the fourth quarter of 2007.

Dick Evans, Alcan’s president and chief executive officer, will become chief executive of the combined aluminium product group, Rio Tinto Alcan, based in Montreal, and will report directly to Rio Tinto’s chief executive, Tom Albanese. 

Tom Albanese, Rio Tinto chief executive, stated:  "As we approach the closing of the transaction, it’s important to hit the ground running with a strong executive team that can begin to capitalize right away on our leadership position in the aluminium industry.  I am very pleased to have Dick Evans leading an outstanding team drawn from the leaders of both Rio Tinto and Alcan."

Dick Evans commented, "The new Rio Tinto Alcan executive team will be comprised of industry leaders with proven track records in their respective roles, and they are an experienced, talented, and well-respected group of professionals. I look forward to working with each of them to create a new world leader in the aluminium industry, and also as part of an extremely strong, diversified global organization. "

The leaders of Rio Tinto Alcan’s Business Units, responsible for the strategic and operational performance of Rio Tinto Alcan’s businesses worldwide and reporting directly to Dick Evans, will be as follows:

Steve Hodgson: President & chief executive officer, Bauxite and Alumina, Rio Tinto Alcan.  His responsibilities will include bauxite mines, alumina refineries and specialty alumina businesses worldwide. The Business Unit headquarters will be located in Brisbane, Australia.

Jacynthe Cote: President & chief executive officer, Primary Metal, Rio Tinto Alcan.  Her responsibilities will include all primary metal facilities and power generation installations worldwide. The Business Unit headquarters will be located in Montreal, Canada.

Christel Bories: President & chief executive officer, Engineered Products, Rio Tinto Alcan.  Her responsibilities continue to include Aerospace, Transportation and Industry (ATI), Extruded Products, Alcan International Network, Engineered and Automotive Solutions, Cable, Composites, and Specialty Sheet. The Engineered Products Business Unit headquarters will continue to be located in Paris, France.

Until the completion of its planned divestiture, announced in July 2007, Packaging will report to Dick Evans and be led by:

Ilene Gordon: President & chief executive officer, Packaging, Rio Tinto Alcan.  Her responsibilities will continue to include Food packaging, Beauty packaging, Tobacco packaging and Pharmaceutical packaging. The Packaging headquarters will continue to be located in Paris, France.

The Rio Tinto Alcan executive staff functions of Finance, Human Resources and Communications & External Relations, reporting to Dick Evans, will be led by:

Phillip Strachan will lead the Finance function at Rio Tinto Alcan. He will also be responsible for Business Planning and Analysis, Information Systems & Technology, and Business Improvement, as well as co-leader of the Rio Tinto Alcan integration. 

Jean-Christophe Deslarzes will lead the Human Resources function at Rio Tinto Alcan.  He will also be responsible for Health, Safety and Environment (HSE), as well as co-leader of the Rio Tinto Alcan integration.

Corey Copeland will lead the Communications & External Relations function at Rio Tinto Alcan.  He will also be responsible for Government Relations and Sustainable Development.

Two additional functional leaders, Legal and Business Development, will be announced at a future date. Until these announcements are made, business will be conducted as usual in these areas.

About Rio Tinto

Rio Tinto is a leading international mining group headquartered in the UK, combining Rio Tinto plc, a London listed company, and Rio Tinto Limited, which is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange.

Rio Tinto’s business is finding, mining, and processing mineral resources. Major products are aluminium, copper, diamonds, energy (coal and uranium), gold, industrial minerals (borax, titanium dioxide, salt, talc) and iron ore. Activities span the world but are strongly represented in Australia and North America with significant businesses in South America, Asia, Europe and southern Africa.

The Sharing Agreement (the agreement relating to the regulation of the relationship between Rio Tinto plc and Rio Tinto Limited following the dual listed companies merger) provides for the public shareholders of Rio Tinto plc and Rio Tinto Limited to vote as a joint electorate on all matters which affect shareholders of both companies in similar ways. These are referred to as Joint Decisions. Joint Decisions are voted on a poll. To facilitate the joint voting arrangements, each company has entered into shareholder voting agreements. Each company has issued a Special Voting Share to a special purpose company held in trust by a common trustee. Rio Tinto plc has issued its Special Voting Share (RTP Special Voting Share) to RTL Shareholder SVC and Rio Tinto Limited has issued its Special Voting Share (RTL Special Voting Share) to RTP Shareholder SVC. The total number of votes cast on Joint Decisions by the public shareholders of one company are voted at the parallel meeting of the other company.

About Alcan

Alcan Inc. (NYSE, TSX: AL) is a leading global materials company, delivering high quality products and services worldwide. With world-class technology and operations in bauxite mining, alumina processing, primary metal smelting, power generation, aluminum fabrication, engineered solutions as well as flexible and specialty packaging, today’s Alcan is well positioned to meet and exceed its customers' needs. Alcan is represented by 68,000 employees, including its joint ventures, in 61 countries and regions, and posted revenues of US$23.6 billion in 2006. The Company has featured on the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes consecutively since 2002. For more information, please visit: www.alcan.com.