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BHP BILLITION ANNOUNCES NEW BASE METALS PRESIDENT
BHP Billiton Plc
Share code: BIL
ISIN: GB0000566504
NEWS RELEASE
Date 4 March 2004
BHP BILLITION ANNOUNCES NEW BASE METALS PRESIDENT
BHP Billiton announced today the appointment of Mr. Diego Hernandez as President
of its Base Metals Customer Sector Group and a member of the BHP Billiton
Executive Committee. In this role Mr. Hernandez will have responsibility for all
aspects of BHP Billiton"s Base Metals business including strategy, operations
and project development.
Mr. Hernandez has extensive experience in the metals and mining industry and
joins BHP Billiton from Cia. Vale Do Rio Doce (CVRD) where he was most recently
Executive Director responsible for CVRD"s Non Ferrous metals division. Prior to
this from 1996 to 2001 he was President and CEO of Compania Minera Collahuasi,
overseeing the development of the Collahuasi copper mine in Chile, the fourth
largest copper mine in the world.
Commenting on the appointment, Chief Executive Officer, Mr Charles Goodyear
said: "We are delighted to welcome Diego to BHP Billiton"s management team. With
over 30 years in the metals and mining industry in Latin America, Diego"s wealth
of experience in the development of major projects and company management is
ideal as we seek to maximise the value and opportunities in our Base Metals
business."
In the six months to 31 December 2003, BHP Billiton"s Base Metals business
delivered US$333 million of earnings before interest and tax from net operating
assets of US$4.0 billion. In addition, BHP Billiton currently has Base Metals
projects worth over US$1.6 billion in development or advanced feasibility (BHP
Billiton share).
Mr Hernandez is due to take up his appointment on 1 April 2004.
Biographical details of Mr. Hernandez attached.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Mr. Diego Hernandez
Diego Hernandez (55) was appointed President of BHP Billiton Base Metals CSG and
a member of the BHP Billiton Executive Committee on 4 March 2004.
Prior to joining BHP Billiton, Mr. Hernandez was Executive Director, CVRD, Non
Ferrous Division with responsibility for CVRD"s copper, nickel, gold, kaolin and
potash businesses and related marketing activities and CVRD"s non ferrous
business strategy. CVRD is the world"s fifth largest mining company by market
capitalization and the world"s largest seaborne iron ore exporter.
From 1996 to 2001, Mr. Hernandez, as President and CEO, was responsible for the
successful construction, development and start up of the giant Collahuasi copper
project, the fourth largest copper mine in the world. This US$1.8 billion
project to produce an average of 346,000 tonnes per year of copper in
concentrate and 50,000 tonnes per year of copper cathode involved development of
the open pit mine, oxide plant, concentrator, concentrate pipeline and related
port facilities.
Mr. Hernandez is a career mining executive with over 30 years experience
primarily in Latin America and with non ferrous metals. His career has involved
working for major mining companies including Rio Tinto, Anglo American and CVRD
and has covered technical, operating and development roles.
CAREER
Executive Director, CVRD, Non Ferrous Division 2001-2004; President and Chief
Executive Officer, Compania Minera Collahuasi 1996-2001; Gerente General (CEO),
Empresa Minera Mantos Blancos 1994-1996; Development Manager, Empresa Minera
Mantos Blancos 1991-1994; Gerente General (CEO), Compania Minera Tres Cruces
1988-1991; Technical Director, Rio Tinto Brazil 1988; Operations Manager, Morro
Do Ouro Gold project, Rio Tinto Brazil, 1985-1988; Assistant Manager Operations,
Empresa Minera Mantos Blancos, 1980-1985; General Manager and Technical
Director, Companhia de Estanho Minas Brazil, 1974-1980.
PERSONAL
Premio Medalla al Merito, Institute of Mining Engineers, Chile
First Class Distinction, Institute of Mining Engineers, Chile
Civil Mining Engineer, Ecole Nationale Superieure des Mines de Paris, France
Former President of the Consejo Minero (Chamber of Mines-Chile), 2000/2001
Married, four children. Fluent in Spanish, English, French and Portuguese.
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
Tel: +61 3 9609 3952 Mobile: +61 Relations
408 313 259 Tel: +44 20 7802 4156
email: email: Mark.Lidiard@bhpbilliton.com
Andrew.W.Nairn@bhpbilliton.com
Tania Price, Media Relations Ariane Gentil, Media Relations
Tel: +61 3 9609 3815 Mobile: +61 Tel: +44 20 7802 4177
419 152 780 email: Ariane.Gentil@bhpbilliton.com
email: Tania.Price@bhpbilliton.com
South Africa
United States Michael Campbell, Investor & Media
Francis McAllister, Investor Relations
Relations Tel: +27 11 376 3360 Mobile: +27 82
Tel: +1 713 961 8625 Mobile: +1 713 458 2587
480 3699 email:
email: Michael.J.Campbell@bhpbilliton.com
Francis.R.McAllister@bhpbilliton.com
Date: 04/03/2004 03:05:04 PM Produced by the JSE SENS Department |
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