Rio Tinto chief executive officer Leigh Clifford said Klingner had moulded the exploration division into a viable business during his seven years at the helm.

"As head of exploration, David refocused and prioritised the group's exploration programmed with the result that Rio Tinto now has an impressive and diverse portfolio of advanced projects including Resolution Copper in Arizona and Simandou Iron Ore in Guinea," he said.

Albanese will run the industrial minerals and exploration divisions until former BP petrochemicals vice president Dr Andrew Mackenzie assumes responsibility of industrial minerals in August.

Mackenzie spent 22 years with BP, primarily in oil and gas exploration, production, chemicals and plastics throughout Britain and the USA.