Number 13/06

BHP Billiton announced today the appointment of Mr Ian Ashby, President and Chief Operating Officer, Western Australian Iron Ore to the BHP Billiton Executive Committee. This appointment reflects the increasing importance of Western Australian Iron Ore in the BHP Billiton portfolio by separating the management of our extensive production and development activities in Western Australia from iron ore development activities in other regions.   Ian will continue to be based in Perth and will report to Chris Lynch, Group President of Carbon Steel Materials.

Biographical details:

Ian Ashby
B Eng Mining. 48

Ian has a B Eng Mining from the Melbourne University.

Joined the group in 1987 and appointed President and Chief Operating Officer for Western Australian Iron Ore in December 2004. He was previously Chief Operating Officer for BHP Billiton’s Base Metals CSG based in Houston and prior to this held a number of operating and project development roles within the Base Metals and Carbon Steel Materials CSGs.

Ian is a Vice President of the Chamber of Minerals & Energy of Western Australia and a Member of AusIMM.  

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

Samantha Evans, Media Relations
Tel: +61 3 9609 2898  Mobile: +61 400 693 915
email: Samantha.Evans@bhpbilliton.com

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

Illtud Harri, Media Relations
Tel: +44 20 7802 4195  Mobile: +44 7920 237 246
email: Illtud.Harri@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