BHP makes four additions to its executive leadership team

BHP announced a number of changes to its executive leadership team on Thursday, which it said reflected its recently-simplified portfolio and its transformation agenda.

The FTSE 100 mining giant said the four people joining the team were Geraldine Slattery as president of petroleum operations, Vandita Pant as chief commercial officer, Jonathan Price as chief transformation officer, and Laura Tyler and chief geoscientist.

They were joining Peter Beaven, Geoff Healy, Mike Henry, Diane Jurgens, Danny Malchuk and Athalie Williams on the executive leadership team.

“Geraldine Slattery will lead BHP's Petroleum business which includes oil and gas interests and development and exploration programs in the US, Australia, Mexico and Canada, effective 18 March,” the BHP board said in its statement.

Slattery had 25 years of experience with BHP, most recently as asset president conventional, and had led a number of teams across the petroleum business.

It said she would bring a “strong combination” of in-field technical experience and global leadership experience gained in the UK, Australia and the US.

“Vandita Pant will assume the position of chief commercial officer from 1 July,” the board added.

“Vandita brings strong global financial market and business development experience to the role.”

As group treasurer and head of Europe, it said she had played a “critical role” in the execution of BHP's capital allocation framework, strengthened BHP's balance sheet and led its capital management programme to return the $10.4bn of net proceeds to shareholders from the sale of BHP's US onshore assets.

Prior to BHP, Pant held roles within ABN Amro and Royal Bank of Scotland, and has lived and worked in Singapore, India and Japan.

“Jonathan Price, currently transformation director, will assume the role of chief transformation officer effective 1 March and join the executive leadership team,” BHP’s board said.

He had held senior roles within BHP in nickel, marketing, iron ore and finance, where he had worked with governments, joint venture partners, customers, industry peers, investors and advisors.

BHP said Price would bring his global business experience and a track record of delivery and change management to the new role.

“Laura Tyler will continue in her current role as asset president Olympic Dam based in Adelaide, reporting to Mike Henry,” the board confirmed.

“In addition to her direct responsibility for Olympic Dam, Laura will rejoin the executive leadership team from 1 March as chief geoscientist and bring a focus on geoscience and resource engineering risk management.”

She would lead technical experts to meet current and future requirements, given the importance of exploration and strategic resource management to BHP's transformation agenda, the directors said.

There were also some departures, with Arnoud Balhuizen returning to the Netherlands after 25 years with Billiton and BHP.

During his time as chief commercial officer, Balhuizen led the integration of BHP's marketing and supply groups into one global commercial team, the board said.

“Through his leadership and vision, BHP's commercial function has developed strong global partnerships and created significant value.”

Additionally, following the successful completion of the sale of BHP's US onshore assets, Steve Pastor had decided to leave the company.

The board said Pastor’s leadership and oil and gas industry expertise, as president of petroleum operations, had delivered a “world class, strategically-focussed” business.

“These management changes are an important step as we plan for the future of BHP,” said chief executive officer Andrew Mackenzie.

“The elevation of geoscience and transformation to the executive leadership team demonstrates the determination we have to advance the best science, technology and people to make our operations safer and more productive.”

"I thank Arnoud and Steve for their significant contribution to BHP,” Mackenzie added, saying that their expertise, integrity and commitment would leave a “strong legacy” in their respective areas of the business, and across the company.