Rio Tinto has appointed Patrick Boitumelo as President and Chief operating officer, Diavik Diamond Mines.

Patrick has extensive operational, stakeholder management and corporate strategy experience at a senior level across a number of businesses in the mining industry, including diamonds, soda ash and salts, nickel, iron ore, copper and copper by-products. Most recently he was general manager of engineering and projects at Kennecott Utah Copper in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.

Rio Tinto Copper & Diamonds, MD-Operations, Nigel Steward said “Patrick brings a wealth of experience to Diavik at an important time in its development, as we work towards safely bringing the A21 production on stream, alongside our existing underground mining operations.”

Patrick said “I am delighted to lead Diavik Diamond Mines and I look forward to working with the team and our business partners to deliver superior value to all our stakeholders.”

Patrick will relocate to Yellowknife and commence his appointment at the end of July 2017.