|
BIL
BIBLT
BIL - Bhp Billiton To Appoint Marius Kloppers As New CEO
BHP Billiton Plc
Share code: BIL
ISIN: GB0000566504
NEWS RELEASE
Date 31 May 2007
Number 15/07
BHP BILLITON TO APPOINT MARIUS KLOPPERS AS NEW CEO
The Board of BHP Billiton announced today that Marius Kloppers would succeed
Chip Goodyear as Chief Executive Officer from 1 October 2007.
In February the Company announced that Mr Goodyear would retire by the end of
the year and that a search was underway for a new Chief Executive Officer.
Chairman Don Argus said the Board was confident that Mr Kloppers would bring to
the CEO role the skills needed to take the company to the next stage of its
development.
"We are in a time of considerable change in our industry with the emergence of
new markets and sources of supply. Marius` vast experience in the resources
sector and his demonstrated strategic capabilities provide the skills we need in
the next leader of our great company", he said.
Mr Kloppers is currently Group President Non-Ferrous Materials and an Executive
Director of BHP Billiton. Since the formation of the BHP Billiton Group in 2001
he has also held the positions of Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Commercial
Officer.
Mr Goodyear said Mr Kloppers had extensive experience in the operating,
marketing and strategic aspects of the natural resources industry, gained
through 14 years with BHP Billiton and its predecessor companies. "Marius has
an excellent strategic mind and delivers on his commitments. He has a very
value focused leadership style and will make an excellent CEO," he said.
Mr Kloppers said he was humbled by the trust placed in him by the Board. "This
is an extraordinary opportunity to lead an outstanding company with talented
people and I am committed to continuing the great work of Chip and his team," Mr
Kloppers said.
Mr Goodyear will retire as CEO on 30 September and from the Group at the end of
the 2007 calendar year.
Mr Kloppers will be based at the Group`s headquarters in Melbourne, Australia.
Biographical details of Mr Kloppers are attached.
Further information on BHP Billiton can be found on our Internet site:
www.bhpbilliton.com
Australia United Kingdom
Samantha Evans, Media Mark Lidiard, Investor & Media
Relations Relations
Tel: +61 3 9609 2898 Mobile: Tel: +44 20 7802 4156 Mobile:
+61 400 693 915 +44 7769 934 942
email: email:
Samantha.Evans@bhpbilliton.co Mark.Lidiard@bhpbilliton.com
m
Jane Belcher, Investor Illtud Harri, Media Relations
Relations Tel: +44 20 7802 4195 Mobile:
Tel: +61 3 9609 3952 Mobile: +44 7920 237 246
+61 417 031 653 email:
email: Illtud.Harri@bhpbilliton.com
Jane.H.Belcher@bhpbilliton.co
m South Africa
Alison GIlbert, Investor
United States Relations
Tracey Whitehead, Investor & Tel: SA +27 11 376 2121 or UK
Media Relations +44 20 7802 4183
Tel: US +1 713 599 6100 or UK Mobile: +44 7769 936 227
+44 20 7802 4031 Email:
Mobile: +44 7917 648 093 Alison.Gilbert@bhpbilliton.com
email:
Tracey.Whitehead@bhpbilliton.
com
Marius Kloppers
BE (Chem), MBA, PhD (Materials Science)
DOB: 26 August 1962
Marius was born in South Africa. He obtained a degree in Chemical Engineering
from the University of Pretoria (South Africa), a PhD from MIT (USA) and a MBA
from Insead (France).
His early career was in petrochemicals with Sasol and materials research with
Mintek, both in South Africa. After obtaining his MBA he worked as a management
consultant with McKinsey & Co in The Netherlands.
Marius joined the Group in 1993 in the aluminium business and subsequently held
a variety of operating and functional roles including General Manager, Hillside
Aluminium, and Chief Operating Officer, Aluminium. He was a core member of the
team that created the Group`s aluminium business. Prior to the formation of BHP
Billiton, he held other roles including Chief Executive Samancor Manganese and
Group Executive of Billiton Plc with responsibility for its coal and manganese
businesses.
He played a central role in the merger of BHP and Billiton, and held the
positions of Chief Marketing Officer and then Chief Commercial Officer before
being appointed Group President, Non-Ferrous Materials and an executive Director
of BHP Billiton Limited and BHP Billiton Plc in January 2006.
Marius is married to Carin, who he met in high school. They live in Melbourne,
Australia with their three children, Noni, Reuben and Gabrielle.
Date: 31/05/2007 07:36:28 Produced by the JSE SENS Department. |
|
