Rio Tinto has appointed Matthew Breen to succeed Angela Bigg as chief operating officer of its Diavik diamond mine in Canada.
Breen, who will take charge on December 8, was previously the general manager of operations at the deposit, Rio Tinto said Wednesday. He will lead the site’s 1,230 employees as the mine moves into its next phase of development.
“I am delighted that Matt will be leading the team at Diavik diamond mine as it continues to supply our customers with high-quality, responsibly sourced Canadian diamonds, while preparing to leave a positive legacy in partnership with our community and government partners,” said Sinead Kaufman, CEO of Rio Tinto’s minerals division.
Bigg, who has been with the company for six years, took the helm as the Diavik mine’s first female president and chief operating officer in 2021. She will take a leave of absence before returning to Rio Tinto in a different leadership role, the company added.
Image: Matthew Breen. (Rio Tinto)
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