# Rio Tinto appoints Trudi Charles as Chief Legal Officer

- Link: https://www.directorstalkinterviews.com/rio-tinto-appoints-trudi-charles-as-chief-legal-officer/4121251520
- Published: 2026-05-14T07:57:11+01:00
- Author: Amilia Stone

**[Rio Tinto plc](https://www.directorstalkinterviews.com/ftse-company/rio-tinto-plc/rio.l)**(
[LON:RIO](https://www.directorstalkinterviews.com/ftse-company/rio-tinto-plc/rio.l))
has appointed Trudi Charles to succeed Isabelle Deschamps as Chief Legal Officer,
Governance & Corporate Affairs.

Trudi is currently Deputy General Counsel and Senior Vice President Legal, Supply,
Trading & Shipping at [BP plc](https://www.directorstalkinterviews.com/ftse-company/bp-plc/bp.l).
She will join Rio Tinto from 1 August 2026.

Trudi has spent over 20 years at BP in various senior legal roles across its downstream
and supply, trading & shipping businesses. Before this, Trudi spent almost eight
years with Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer in London and Hong Kong. She is admitted
to the Law Society of England & Wales, the Law Society of Hong Kong and the Queensland
Law Society.

> **Rio Tinto Chief Executive Simon Trott said:** “Trudi brings deep legal experience
> and strong commercial insight. I look forward to having her join the executive
> team and lead our legal, governance and corporate affairs teams.”

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