* Simon Henry, Sam Laidlaw, David Constable named asnon-execs
* No energy deals expected in current environment - analyst (Adds other appointments, background, analyst's comment)
By Karolin Schaps
LONDON, Feb 10 (Reuters) - Rio Tinto hasappointed three former senior managers from the energy industryto its board as non-executive directors, including Shell's departing CFO Simon Henry, the mining company said onFriday.
Henry, who is stepping down as Chief Financial Officer atShell after seven years on March 9, will join Rio Tinto on July1. Former Centrica chief executive Sam Laidlaw andex-Sasol CEO David Constable will take up theirnon-executive posts immediately, Rio Tinto said.
"With diverse expertise across successful internationalengineering, resources and financial businesses, I have no doubtthat their insight and hands-on experience will strengthen theboard," Rio Tinto Chairman Jan du Plessis said.
Non-executive directors Anne Lauvergeon, the former CEO of French nuclear reactor maker Areva, and Robert Brownwill step down from their roles at the company's annual generalmeeting on May 4.
Rio Tinto, the world's second-largest miner, is emergingfrom a deep market downturn during which time it shed assets torepair its balance sheet.
The company declined to comment further on the appointments,which will add significant energy industry expertise to itsboard.
"I think you're bringing on someone like Simon Henry who'sgot a wealth of experience across the (oil and gas) space,"Jamie Campbell, head of natural resources at Panmure Gordon,said. "But I just can't see Rio going from zero to 100 in theenergy sector in this environment."
Last year, incoming chief executive Jean-Sebastien Jacquessaid he was not interested in expanding into the oil and gasindustry.
Henry, who has worked at Shell for 34 years, will hand overto Jessica Uhl on March 9 and leave the company on June 30.
"Royal Dutch Shell confirms that Simon Henry, ChiefFinancial Officer of the company, has been appointed anon-executive director of Rio Tinto with effect from July 1,2017," Shell said in a statement on Friday.
Henry was one of the driving forces behind Shell's bumper$54 billion acquisition of BG Group last year. (Additional reporting by Barbara Lewis in Cape Town; Editing byDavid Goodman and Jane Merriman)
