Sam Walsh AO

Executive director

BCom (Melbourne)

Appointment: Director of Rio Tinto since 2009 and chief executive, Iron Ore and Australia.

Skills and experience: Sam joined Rio Tinto in 1991, following 20 years in the automotive industry at General Motors and Nissan Australia. He has held a number of management positions within the Group, including from 2001 to 2004 chief executive of the Aluminium group and since 2004 chief executive of the Iron Ore group. Sam is also a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management, the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Management and the Australian Institute of Company Directors. In June 2010, Sam was appointed an Officer in the General Division of the Order of Australia.

External appointments (current and recent): Director of Seven West Media Limited since 2008.