Eh? He certainly wasn't global CEO, then or ever. That one was down to Tom Albanese, and he wore the consequences.
Before his departure in 2007, Clifford began the process a couple of years earlier by talking with Alcan's bosses about a merger belieing that they had to "time" the move, as Alcoa wanted Alcan as well. Rio's bid won.
Clifford departed in May 2007 and Albanese simply completed what was a bad project from the start.
Correction to my previous post. Was referring to Alcan, not Alcoa.