With the iron ore contract price talks for 2010 due to start soon, both Anglo-Australian miner Rio Tinto and the Chinese side have made changes to their negotiating teams.
According to an internal memo from Rio Tinto on December 10, president of Rio Tinto Iron Ore Asia, Will Malaney, will transfer his role as chief negotiator in the talks to Rio Tinto Iron Ore Asia's general manager for marketing, Danny Goeman, who will take the lead role in the coming talks and report to Mr. Malaney. It is to deal with the increasing complexities of the Asian market that Rio Tinto has made such a move, the company said.
Meanwhile, the China Iron and Steel Association will be replaced by Baosteel Group as chief negotiator on the Chinese side for the iron ore price talks, according to local Chinese media. Officials at Baosteel Group declined to confirm the change or to make a comment.