Rio Tinto has announced the appointment of Ms Marie Lapointe as Executive director of operations for steel and powders, inside RT’s Metal Powders group.

I had the pleasure of working with Marie inside the Alcan organization many years ago. This is one complete individual - intelligent, aware, not afraid to speak her mind, but equally caring and insightful.

Marie served a long apprenticeship in various operational, engineering and arresting roles within Alcan, sometimes at personal expense. Though I have no information either way, it strikes me that a gig in an organization like metal powders can only be a stepping stone to something more suited to her experience.

I last bumped into Marie at the Antaike conference last year, but our previous meeting was one in which her advice and counseling was timely and supportive. I wish Marie great success in this and future roles.