Isabelle Deschamps

Chief Legal, Governance & Corporate Affairs Officer


Isabelle Deschamps
Isabelle Deschamps

Experience

Isabelle joined Rio Tinto in November 2021 and brings extensive international legal and leadership experience. Fluent in English, French and Spanish, she brings a highly global perspective to the corporate affairs portfolio.

She is admitted to practise law in England and Wales, UK and in Quebec, Canada. Prior to joining Rio Tinto, Isabelle was General Counsel of the AkzoNobel Group and a member of its Executive Committee and previously held senior roles at Unilever.

At Rio Tinto, she leads the global Legal, Communications and Government Relations teams, and oversees governance functions including Company Secretariat and Ethics & Compliance. Isabelle is a pragmatic and transparent leader committed to integrity, inclusion and continuous learning.

Select Skills & Competencies

  • International corporate governance and regulatory oversight capability, backed by a proven record of directing global legal, compliance and secretarial functions across multi-jurisdictional frameworks.
  • Strong commercial and legal acumen within heavy industrial sectors, ensuring rigorous oversight of international joint ventures, global supply contracts and foreign investment protection.
  • Deep expertise in international stakeholder relations and public policy, leading global communications and government relations to advance long-term commercial objectives.