Rio Tinto chairman Simon Thompson and board member/former senior public servant Michael L’Estrange yesterday became the latest to step down over the mining company’s controversial destruction of culturally significant rock shelters in Western Oz’s Juukan Gorge last year. While the blasting of the 46,000yo site was given a thumbs up by the state government, it went against the land’s traditional owners’ wishes. Thompson called the decision “a source of personal sadness and deep regret” and “a clear breach of our values as a company”. It follows the resignation of former boss Jean-Sebastien Jacques and two senior execs last year. Faring significantly better is Mike Sneesby – he will replace outgoing Nine Entertainment chief executive Hugh Marks as boss of the broadcasting and publishing network. Marks announced his departure after finding love with a colleague – something the board was not comfortable with. The appointment of Sneesby, who currently heads up streamer Stan, comes from within the Nine family.