BHP Billiton has announced the appointment of Flávio Bulcão as Country Director, Brazil, effective immediately.    

Mr Bulcão will lead the BHP Billiton team based in Belo Horizonte, Brazil supporting Samarco in the humanitarian, environmental and operational recovery efforts following the breach of the Fundão tailings dam in Minas Gerais on 5 November 2015.

Mr Bulcão has extensive experience in the metals and mining industry having held a number of senior executive roles with BHP Billiton in Brazil, including Joint Venture Director of the Aluminium and Nickel Group and Asset President Aluminium between 2009 and 2013.

Prior to these operational leadership roles, he served as Head of Legal for BHP Billiton in Brazil and rejoins the Company from his current role as a partner with law firm Motta, Fernandes Rocha Advogados. Before joining BHP Billiton, Mr Bulcão worked for Shell Brasil in senior legal, joint venture and human resource roles.

As Country Director, Brazil, Mr Bulcão will report to Chief Commercial Officer, Dean Dalla Valle who assumes day-to-day responsibility for BHP Billiton’s response to the Samarco dam breach in Brazil at Group Management Committee level.

Mr Dalla Valle welcomed Mr Bulcão back to BHP Billiton: “BHP Billiton, its partners and stakeholders will benefit from the depth of Flávio’s corporate and operational experience.

“Flávio’s appointment forms part of BHP Billiton’s commitment to supporting Samarco in rebuilding communities and restoring the environment following the tragedy in Minas Gerais. We are 100 per cent committed to supporting Samarco in the ongoing response,” he said.

“He will lead our in-country presence supporting Samarco and playing a direct role in BHP Billiton’s commercial, legal, government and regulatory engagement in Brazil over the long-term.”