Canada’s outgoing ambassador to China will take up a post as chairman to Australian multinational mining corporation Rio Tinto, the company announced on Dec. 19. Dominic Barton will succeed Simon Thompson as Rio Tinto’s chairman in 2022. He will first join Rio Tinto’s board on April 4 and be appointed to the role of chair following the company’s annual general meeting on May 5, according to a statement issued on Dec. 20. In the statement, Barton said he is “excited” to return to the private sector after his two-year assignment as Canada’s ambassador to China. Prior to his appointment, the Ugandan-born consultant spent over 30 years at management consulting firm McKinsey & Company, including six years as Asia chairman at the company’s Shanghai base. “I am truly looking forward to working with Dominic in our effort to continue to strengthen Rio Tinto, in particular drawing on his wealth of experience …