"BHP Billiton today announced that aluminium president Jon Dudas would be leaving the organisation," was all the company would say on the issue or Mr Dudas, who had reportedly been with BHP since 1991. The company would not comment on the specifics of the safety issues nor could the London-based Mr Dudas be contacted yesterday.
Before taking over the aluminium business in April 2008, Mr Dudas was marketing director and chief commercial officer for BHP energy coal and chief information officer.
He took up the reins just a month before the approval of the then $US1.9 billion ($1.83bn) Worsley alumina expansion, whose costs last year blew out to $US3bn. One of BHP's aluminium vice-presidents, David Richardson, has been made acting head of aluminium.
The aluminium business, along with nickel, is often speculated as being one BHP chief Marius Kloppers wants to exit. In December, Mr Kloppers said the aluminium and nickel businesses were unlikely to be expanded and would be moved under the management of BHP's chief operating officer, Alberto Calderon.
At the time, Mr Kloppers said the number of products BHP had was likely to decline over the next 10 years as its expansion plans in iron ore, copper and potash made some businesses too small for it to keep. Nickel and aluminium were the worst performers in the first half of 2011-12.
The aluminium business made a $67 million loss before interest and tax, down from a $17m profit, while nickel posted a $1m profit, down from $357m a year earlier.
豫公网安备41010502003434号