Nasser, Schubert top 2 for BHP chairman -paper

LONDON, July 30 (Reuters) - Jacques Nasser, the former Ford Motor chief executive and John Schubert, the Commonwealth Bank of Australia chairman are the front-runners to become the next chairman of mining company BHP Billiton (BLT.L), according to the Financial Times. The report, citing people close to the company, said BHP would elect its new chairman next week when its board meets to consider candidates to succeed Don Argus and that the process would be managed by BHP's auditor KPMG. The new chairman is due to be decided by a secret ballot of the 15 board members in Melbourne, Australia, said the report. BHP couldn't be reached immediately for comment. (Reporting by Rhys Jones; editing by Carol Bishopric)