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Goodyear To Retire From BHP Billiton By End Of CY2007

Number 05/07

BHP Billiton Chairman, Don Argus, and Chief Executive Officer, Chip Goodyear, today announced that Mr Goodyear will retire from the company by the end of calendar year 2007.

Commenting on his decision, Mr Goodyear said: "It has been a privilege and a pleasure to work with an outstanding team of people at BHP Billiton during a tremendous period in the company’s history. But after nine years with the company, and what will be five years as CEO, I have decided it is an appropriate time for the organisation to transition to the next generation of leadership. The decision to retire was always going to be a difficult one but change and regeneration are part of corporate life, just as they are part of life. My decision was made easier in the knowledge that we have created an outstanding enterprise with wonderful assets, opportunities and first class people."

BHP Billiton Chairman, Don Argus, said: "Chip has played a key role in the transformation of BHP Billiton since 1999. He has been a member, and in more recent years the leader, of the team which has made BHP Billiton a global leader in the natural resources industry. 

"BHP Billiton has benefited by Chip’s exceptional leadership and he will continue to lead the company until a new CEO is in place. The Board will now use this period to implement its succession plan. One of Chip’s significant contributions is that he has developed a number of strong internal candidates who will be considered for the role. As shareholders would expect we will also consider external candidates." Mr Argus said.

BHP Billiton also today reported results for the half year ended 31 December 2006 which set records for all key earnings measures including Underlying EBIT of US$9.1 billion and Attributable Profit of US$6.2 billion (see separate press release dated 7 February 2007 for further details).

For further information please contact:

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

Jane Belcher, Investor Relations
Tel: +61 3 9609 3952  Mobile: +61 417 031 653
email: Jane.H.Belcher@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
Ivan Arriagada, Investor Relations
Tel: SA +27 11 376 2121 or UK +44 20 7802 4183
Mobile: +44 7769 936 227
email: Ivan Arriagada@bhpbilliton.com