Number 34/07

BHP Billiton announced today that it has appointed Andrew Mackenzie as Group Executive and Chief Executive Non Ferrous. Mr Mackenzie will be a member of the Group Management Committee.

Mr Mackenzie will assume the role following the succession of Marius Kloppers from the position of Group President Non Ferrous to Chief Executive Officer on 1 October this year.

Mr Mackenzie, 50 and British, has around 30 years working experience in minerals, metals, oil and gas. He joins BHP Billiton from Rio Tinto, where he was Chief Executive, Diamonds and Industrial Minerals. Previously he was Group Vice President, BP Petrochemicals. He spent 22 years with BP, primarily in the UK and North America in senior positions including head of Capital Markets in BP Finance, chief reservoir engineer with oversight of oil and gas reserves and production, head of Government and Public Affairs worldwide and Group Vice-President Technology. Mr Mackenzie is a non-executive director of Centrica.

BHP Billiton Chief Executive Officer Marius Kloppers today welcomed Mr Mackenzie to the Group Management Committee. “Andrew has extensive experience in our sector and will be a valuable addition to our executive team. I look forward to working with him as we strive to meet the growing demand for our commodities,” Mr Kloppers said.

Mr Mackenzie will be based in London. No start date has yet been fixed. His employment contract with Rio Tinto contains obligations in relation to a period of notice that he will observe.

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

Don Carroll, Investor Relations
Tel: +61 3 9609 2686  Mobile: +61 417 591 938
email: Don.A.Carroll@bhpbilliton.com

United Kingdom
Andre Liebenberg, Investor Relations
Tel: +44 20 7802 4131  Mobile: +44 7920 236 974
email: Andre.Liebenberg@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
Mobile: +44 7769 936 227
email: Alison.Gilbert@bhpbilliton.com