Jean-Sébastien Jacques, chief executive of Rio Tinto, will step down by the end of March after failing to contain the fallout from the destruction of an ancient Aboriginal site in Western Australia.

The company said two other senior executives — Chris Salisbury, the head of iron ore, and corporate affairs leader Simone Niven, who had responsibility for indigenous affairs — will also leave Rio, as the miner battles an investor backlash against its decision to destroy the 46,000-year-old site.  

Simon Thompson, Rio Tinto chairman, said Mr Jacques had agreed to stand down as chief executive and a process to identify a successor was under way. He added that Mr Jacques would remain in his role until the appointment of a successor or leave by March 31.