Michael Hutchinson is to leave RBS Sempra Metals Ltd. after 38 years with the company, most recently as its non-executive Chairman, its Chief Executive Peter Sellars said in a note to clients seen by Dow Jones Newswires Wednesday.

"Many of us have worked alongside Mike and know just how instrumental he has been to the growth and development of an outstandingly successful company over the years, to the point now where we are one of the world's leading metals trading houses," Sellars said.

"Although leaving our company, Mike is still active in the metals business with a number of other non-executive directorships and chairmanships which will continue to keep him busy," Sellars added.

Hutchinson has a long history with the team at RBS Sempra. He joined the Metallgesellschaft group in 1971, became a director of Metallgesellschaft Ltd in 1982 and became Managing Director in 1985. He also served on the boards of various Metallgesellschaft companies.

In 1999, he became Joint Managing Director of MG Plc and remained Chairman and Chief Executive of Metallgesellschaft Ltd, a group company. In 2000, Enron bought MG PLC and in 2002 Sempra Energy acquired the Company and appointed him as President and Chief Executive.

Hutchinson sits on and has chaired various London Metal Exchange committees and has been a member of the LME's board since April 2005. He currently chairs the LME aluminum committee, is vice-chair of the tin committee and is on the nickel and steel committees.

RBS Sempra Commodities was formed April 1, 2008 and is a joint venture between Sempra Energy (SRE) and the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS).

-By Andrea Hotter, Dow Jones Newswires; +44 (0)20 7842 9413; andrea.hotter@dowjones.com