Jean-Sébastien Dominique Francois Jacques (born October 1971) is a former chief executive officer of Rio Tinto Group.
[11][12] During his tenure, Jacques set an ambition for Rio Tinto Group to become net carbon neutral by 2050 underpinned by a commitment to invest around $1 billion between 2020 and 2025.
[16] As CEO, Jacques was legally accountable for Rio Tinto's destruction of an ancient Australian Aboriginal site at Juukan Gorge.
In front of the commission of enquiry Jacques said that in 2013 the group had three other options to develop its mine without damaging the ancient site.
The fourth option was chosen to blast the cave and a section 18 (authorisation to disturb the site) was granted in 2013 under the previous CEO, Sam Walsh.
During that time, he has led the best safety performance in Rio Tinto’s history, simplified the portfolio, divested the Group’s coal assets, established a clear strategy to address climate change and generated exceptional shareholder returns.