Didier Arseguel
In his role as Vice President, Technology, based in Sorel-Tracy, Quebec, Canada, Mr. Arseguel coordinates the overall development of technology, products, and operating procedures for the Rio Tinto Iron and Titanium (RTIT) business unit which includes the Quebec Operations in Canada, Richards Bay Minerals in South Africa and QIT Madagascar Minerals in Madagascar.
Moreover, he is responsible for the Critical Minerals and Technology Centre, and under his leadership, the centre has become a hub of innovation for the industry, particularly through the discovery of a method to extract scandium from waste streams. In 2023, Mr. Arseguel inherited an additional responsibility of Global Program Leader – Minerals Processing Decarbonization and joined the Energy and Climate Leadership team. As part of Rio Tinto Energy & Climate (RTEC), he is responsible for defining the minerals processing strategy and roadmap, and accountable for delivering an approved portfolio of decarbonization activities in partnership with Product Group and assets. He is also responsible for prioritization and funding decisions, as well as the budget.
He holds a PhD in organic chemistry and joined Rio Tinto in 1990 as a research and development engineer for the talc market. During his 34-year tenure with the global company, he has held various strategic positions in marketing, research, and development, notably in France, the United States, and England. Mr. Arseguel is a member of the RTIT and RTEC leadership teams, and he sits on the Board of Directors of PRIMA Québec (The Advanced Materials Research and Innovation Hub).