Rio Tinto CEO Jean-Sebastien Jacques replaced

Rio Tinto chief executive Jean-Sébastien Jacques will leave the company by the end of March. CREDIT:JOSH ROBENSTONE

The decision comes after months of escalating pressure from Aboriginal groups, top shareholders and government leaders over Rio Tinto's decision to destroy the two culturally significant rock shelters in Western Australia's Pilbara region which had evidence of continual human occupation tracing back at least 46,000 years.