RIO DE JANEIRO, Oct 8 (Reuters) - Brazilian miner Vale

on Tuesday swapped out its head of iron ore

solutions, the first major change in leadership since CEO

Gustavo Pimenta started in his role earlier this month.

Vale's current director of product and business

development, Rogerio Nogueira, will take over the role on an

interim basis starting Wednesday through the end of the year,

the miner said in a securities filing.

He'll replace Marcelo Spinelli, Vale said, without

providing a reason for Spinelli's departure.

A source familiar with the matter said Spinelli's exit,

not just from the post but from the company, was decided by

Pimenta himself.

Pimenta believes Vale - one of the world's largest iron

ore producers - needs to shake up its commercial division in

order to build stronger relationships with clients, the source

added.