RNS Number:8454H
BHP Billiton PLC
24 February 2003


Date                 24 February 2003
Number               07/03

            BHP Billiton Announces Executive Committee Appointments


BHP Billiton today announced a number of new Executive Committee appointments.

Mr David Munro is appointed Chief Development Officer and a member of the BHP
Billiton Executive Committee. Mr Munro will be responsible for group strategy,
mergers and acquisitions and business evaluation.

Mr Munro has held a number of senior positions within BHP Billiton and the
former Billiton Plc including Executive Director of Billiton Plc. Mr Munro's
career includes a wide range of responsibilities in the areas of operations,
marketing and corporate finance. At the time of the BHP Billiton merger he was
responsible for the Aluminium business and, in August 2002, was appointed Vice
President of Strategy and Business Development.

Mr Chris Pointon, President Stainless Steel Materials, and Mr Marcus Randolph,
President Diamonds and Specialty Products, are also appointed members of the BHP
Billiton Executive Committee. The appointments of Mr Pointon and Mr Randolph
ensure that all Customer Sector Groups are represented at the Executive
Committee level.

Commenting on the appointments, Chief Executive Officer, Mr Charles Goodyear
said; "Today's appointments further strengthen the management team at BHP
Billiton. Dave, Marcus and Chris bring to our executive team a strong
understanding of our industry, solid commercial skills and significant
operational experience. These appointments simplify our organisation and flatten
our reporting structure."

These appointments are effective immediately.

Biographical backgrounds of Messrs. Munro, Randolph and Pointon attached.


Further information on BHP Billiton can be found on our Internet site: 
http://www.bhpbilliton.com


Australia                               United Kingdom
Andrew Nairn, Investor Relations        Mark Lidiard, Investor & Media Relations
Tel: +61 3 9609 3952 Mobile: +61 408    Tel: +44 20 7802 4156 Mobile: +44 7769 934 942
313 259                                 email: Mark.Lidiard@bhpbilliton.com
email: Andrew.W.Nairn@bhpbilliton.com

Tracey Whitehead, Media Relations       Ariane Gentil, Media Relations
Tel: +61 3 9609 4202 Mobile: +61 419    Tel: +44 20 7802 4177
404 978                                 email: Ariane.Gentil@bhpbilliton.com
email: Tracey.Whitehead@bhpbilliton.com

United States                           South Africa
Francis McAllister, Investor Relations  Michael Campbell, Investor & Media Relations
Tel: +1 713 961 8625 Mobile: +1 713 480 Tel: +27 11 376 3360 Mobile: +27 82 458 2587
3699                                    email: Michael.J.Campbell@bhpbilliton.com
email:
Francis.R.McAllister@bhpbilliton.com



BACKGROUND INFORMATION

David Munro

David Munro became Chief Development Officer of BHP Billiton on 24 February
2003. He will be based in London.

Mr Munro (47), who joined the South African predecessor of Billiton in 1981, was
one of the four Executive Directors that led Billiton's IPO on the London Stock
Exchange in 1997 and the subsequent merger with BHP in 2001.

As a director of Billiton prior to the merger with BHP, David was responsible
for the aluminium and base metals businesses. Before 1997 he held a number of
senior roles taking charge of the group's marketing, brokerage, exploration,
technology, development and international activities as well as running
important parts of the company's nickel, gold, ferroalloy and coal businesses.

As head of aluminium, David was responsible for building the division to the
point at which it represented more than half of Billiton's assets and cash flow.
In particular the $1 billion Mozal greenfield aluminium smelter project in
Mozambique and the $1.5 billion acquisition of Worsley Alumina in Australia were
hailed as fundamental to the creation of a truly world class aluminium business.

Together with his Billiton executive colleagues, David is widely credited with
the ten-year transformation of the number two South African mining house into
the worlds premier mining company.

Mr Munro has extensive production, marketing, project and general management
experience. His twenty-five year international career in resources has given him
line management exposure to most mineral commodities and the opportunity to
conduct business in more than fifty countries around the globe.

CAREER

Vice President Strategy and Business Development 2002 - 2003; Executive Director
Aluminium, Base Metals and Group Marketing 1997  2001; Executive Director New
Business and Marketing 1996  1997; Managing Director Billiton International 1994
1995; General Manager Manganese 1991  1993; Senior Manager Natal Coal Mines
1989  1990; Manager Coal Marketing 1986  1988; Production and Project Manager
Coal Mines 1981  1984; Production and Project Manager Gold Mines JCI 1977  1980.

Personal

MBA, Cranfield School of Management, UK;

Mining Engineering, Camborne School of Mines, UK

Married, two children. Recreation: golf, yachting

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Chris Pointon

Chris Pointon was appointed to the Executive Committee of BHP Billiton on 24
February 2003. He will be based in London. Chris was appointed President,
Stainless Steel Materials at the merger between BHP Ltd and Billiton Plc in June
2001. He was previously CEO, Nickel and Chrome for Billiton.

Mr Pointon (55) led Billiton's nickel business from its formation in 1995. Since
then it has grown through a series of expansions and transactions to become the
fourth largest nickel producer. In April 2001 Chris also took responsibility for
Samancor Chrome. This led to the creation of a single business unit focused on
the provision of primary raw materials to the stainless steel industry.

Chris is a career mining executive with over 20 years experience covering
Australia, Latin America, Europe and Asia, and most major metals. His early
career was in minerals exploration, initially with CRA (subsequently RioTinto),
and subsequently with Royal Dutch Shell - Billiton. After assignments including
human resources, business development and operations management he moved into
general management with his involvement in nickel.

CAREER

President, Stainless Steel Materials CSG (2001- present); CEO, Nickel and Chrome
(2001); Managing Director, QNI Ltd (1997 - 2001); Chief Executive, Nickel -
Gencor Ltd (1996-1997); Co-ordinator, Nickel Business Unit, Billiton
International Metals BV (1995 - 1996); President Director, Billiton Companies in
Indonesia (1994 - 1995); Business Development Manager, Billiton International
Metals BV (1991 - 1994); Senior Personnel Resourcing Adviser, Billiton
International Metals BV (1989 - 1991); Exploration Manager, Billiton Espanola SA
(1987 - 1989); Exploration Manager, Billiton Portuguesa Desenvolvimento Mineiro
(1985 - 1987); Exploration Manager and Chief Geologist, Shell Chile SA (1982 -
1985); Senior Geologist, Billiton International Metals BV (1979 - 1982);
Geologist, CRA Exploration Pty Ltd (1969 - 1976).

PERSONAL

BSc (Chemistry and Earth Sciences) Leeds University, UK

PhD in Geology, University of Aston, Birmingham, UK.

Married with two children.


BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Marcus Randolph

Marcus Randolph became President of the Diamonds and Specialty Products Customer
Sector Group in August 2002. In this role, Marcus is responsible for BHP
Billiton's diamonds and titanium (Richards Bay) businesses, North American
Metals distribution (Integris) plus technology and minerals exploration across
the group. He is based in Melbourne.

Mr. Randolph (46) joined BHP in 1999 as Chief Strategic Officer Minerals and had
been Chief Development Officer Minerals prior to his appointment as President of
Diamonds and Specialty Products. In these earlier roles, Marcus was responsible
for business development, project development, exploration, marketing, strategy
and technology within Minerals.

Mr. Randolph has extensive international Minerals business and operating
experience. Prior to joining BHP, he was Chief Executive Officer of a Singapore
based gold and petroleum company operating in Asia. He also worked for Rio Tinto
Plc in senior positions in London and the United States and for Asarco Inc in
Peru and the United States.

CAREER

President, Diamonds & Specialty Products 2002 - present; Chief Development
Officer Minerals 2001 - 2002; Chief Strategic Officer Minerals 1999-2001; Chief
Executive Officer, First Dynasty Mines 1996-99; Mining and Minerals Executive,
Rio Tinto Plc 1993-96; Director of Acquisitions and Strategy, Kennecott Inc.
1990-1993; General Manager, Corporacion Minera Nor Peru (Asarco) 1984-1988; Mine
Operating Positions in the US, Asarco Inc. 1977-1984.

PERSONAL

MBA The Harvard Business School

BSc, The Colorado School of Mines

Married, two children. Recreation: motorcycling, tropical fish.


BHP Billiton Limited ABN 49 004 028 077                     BHP Billiton Plc Registration number 3196209
Registered in Australia                                     Registered in England and Wales
Registered Office: 600 Bourke Street Melbourne Victoria     Registered Office: 1-3 Strand London WC2N 5HA United Kingdom
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              The BHP Billiton Group is headquartered in Australia




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