BHP Billiton senior executive changes

BHP Billiton today announced changes to its senior management team:

 

 

Alex Vanselow, Group Executive and Chief Financial Officer, will retire from BHPBilliton at the end of February 2012. He will be succeeded by Graham Kerr, recentlyPresident of Diamonds and Specialty Products; andMike Henry, President of Marketing, will join the Group Management Committee asGroup Executive and Chief Marketing Officer, reporting to the Chief ExecutiveOfficer, Marius Kloppers.

 

 

Mr Vanselow, who has decided to pursue personal business interests, joined the Companyin 1989 and was appointed Chief Financial Officer in 2006.

 

 

BHP Billiton Chief Executive Officer, Marius Kloppers, said both the Board and the entireexecutive team extended their thanks to Mr Vanselow and acknowledged his significantcontribution.

 

 

“Alex has served the Company with distinction over many years and in particular during histime as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer and as a key member of my managementteam. We will miss his wise counsel, but we understand his decision to pursue otherinterests and wish him well. He will be an honoured member of BHP Billiton’s alumni.”

 

 

Mr Vanselow will remain with BHP Billiton until the end of February 2012 to ensure a smoothtransition to his successor, Graham Kerr. Mr Kerr will join the Group ManagementCommittee immediately, and will officially assume the role of Chief Financial Officer from1 January 2012. He will be based in Melbourne, reporting to the Chief Executive Officer.

 

 

Mr Kerr joined what was then BHP in 1994. He served in a wide range of finance andtreasury roles before departing BHP Billiton at the end of 2004 for a brief stint in anotherresources company. He rejoined BHP Billiton in 2006, and until recently was President ofthe Diamonds and Speciality Products Customer Sector Group based in Vancouver,Canada.

 

 

BHP Billiton’s President of Marketing, Mike Henry, will join the enlarged Group ManagementCommittee as Group Executive and Chief Marketing Officer, reporting to the Chief ExecutiveOfficer, effective immediately. He will continue to be based in Singapore.

 

 

Mr Henry joined BHP Billiton in 2003 from Mitsubishi Corporation, where he served in avariety of commercial roles. He was appointed President of Marketing in 2010. Prior to thatappointment he had responsibility for the marketing of a variety of commodities includingPetroleum, Energy Coal and Uranium, and has also overseen BHP Billiton’s freightoperations.

 

 

Mr Kloppers welcomed both appointments to the Group Management Committee.

 

 

“Graham and Mike have made outstanding contributions to our organisation in a variety ofroles and the senior leadership group welcomes them to the Group ManagementCommittee.”

 

 

The termination arrangements for Alex Vanselow are consistent with the Group’s longestablished policy. Awards previously made to Mr Vanselow under the five year long termincentive plan will be pro-rated (reduced) to reflect his period of service from the date ofgrant to the date of departure. Those awards must be held for the duration of theperformance period and will only vest if the performance hurdles are satisfied. No award willbe made to Mr Vanselow in respect of FY2012.