Number 47/05

BHP Billiton Chairman Don Argus announced today that senior executives Marius Kloppers and Chris Lynch would join the BHP Billiton Board effective 1 January 2006.

Announcing the appointments Don Argus said:  “Both appointments will strengthen the depth and experience on the Board.  The appointments are consistent with our ongoing program of Board renewal.  These executive appointments are in addition to the ongoing program of replacing retiring non-executive directors and we will continue to refresh our non-executive Board membership over time.”

Mr Kloppers was today also appointed Group President with responsibility for the non-ferrous businesses replacing Mike Salamon who has moved to the role of Executive President of BHP Billiton.  Mr Kloppers previously held the position of Chief Commercial Officer with responsibility for Marketing, Strategy and Business Development, Exploration and Technology.  

Mr Lynch is the Chief Financial Officer.  He joined BHP Limited in 2000 as Chief Financial Officer of the Minerals Group and took over as Chief Financial Officer for the BHP Billiton Group in September 2001.

Both Mr Kloppers and Mr Lynch are members of the Office of Chief Executive.

With Executive Directors Chip Goodyear and Mike Salamon these appointments bring the total number of Executive Directors to four.

Biographical details:

Marius Kloppers
BE (Chem), MBA, PhD (Materials Science), 43

Chief Commercial Officer. From 1 January 2006 Group President (Non Ferrous)

Member of the Office of Chief Executive.

Joined the Group in 1993 and appointed Chief Commercial Officer in December 2003.  He was previously Chief Marketing Officer, Group Executive of Billiton Plc, Chief Executive of Samancor Manganese, and held various positions at Billiton Aluminium, amongst them Chief Operating Officer and General Manager of Hillside Aluminium.  

Chris Lynch
BComm, MBA, FCPA, 51

Chief Financial Officer

Member of the Office of Chief Executive.

Joined the Group in 2000 as Chief Financial Officer of the Minerals Group and appointed Chief Financial Officer in September 2001.  He was Vice President and Chief Information Officer for Alcoa Inc based in Pittsburgh, US, and Chief Financial Officer, Alcoa Europe located in Lausanne, Switzerland.  He was also Managing Director KAAL Australia Ltd, a joint venture company formed by Alcoa Inc and Kobe Steel, Manager Financial Risk and Treasury Operations for Alcoa Inc in Pittsburgh, US, and Corporate Accounting Manager at Alcoa of Australia Ltd.

For further information please contact:

Australia
Jane Belcher, Investor Relations
Tel: +61 3 9609 3952  Mobile: +61 417 031 653
email: Jane.H.Belcher@bhpbilliton.com

Tania Price, Media Relations
Tel: +61 3 9609 3815  Mobile: +61 419 152 780
email: Tania.Price@bhpbilliton.com

United Kingdom
Mark Lidiard, Investor & Media Relations
Tel: +44 20 7802 4156  Mobile: +44 7769 934 942
email: Mark.Lidiard@bhpbilliton.com

Ariane Gentil, Media Relations
Tel: +44 20 7802 4177  Mobile: +44 7881 518 715
email: Ariane.Gentil@bhpbilliton.com

United States
Tracey Whitehead, Investor & Media Relations
Tel: US +1 713 599 6100 or UK +44 20 7802 4031
Mobile: +44 7917 648 093
email: Tracey.Whitehead@bhpbilliton.com

South Africa
Alison Gilbert, Investor Relations
Tel: SA +27 11 376 2121 or UK +44 20 7802 4183
email: Alison.Gilbert@bhpbilliton.com