NEWSMAKER-No-nonsense new Anglo chairman brings fresh look

* New Anglo chair John Parker has long merger expertise

* Has sat on 12 boards, chaired eight of them

* Genial presence, believes in tough leadership

By Eric Onstad

LONDON, July 10 (Reuters) - John Parker brings a hard-headed shipbuilding background, gracious style and merger expertise to the chairman's post of mining group Anglo American Plc (AAL.L), under siege by predator Xstrata (XTA.L).

Parker, 67, who has sat on 12 boards of listed companies and chaired eight of them, will take the top job at Anglo on Aug. 1. [ID:nLA342519]

Born in Northern Ireland into a farming family, Parker has a reputation as genial with a no-nonsense core.

"Beneath the velvet manners, it's hard to escape the impression that Parker is really made of shipbuilder's steel," said a 2007 article in World Business magazine.