Marius Kloppers will succeed Chip Goodyear as CEO of BHP Billiton.

BHP Billiton chairman Don Argus says Marius Kloppers will bring 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 says.

Marius 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.

Murchison appoints non-executive director

Murchison Metals has appointed James McClements as a non-executive director.

James McClements has extensive experience in the resources industry. He is co-founder of Resource Capital Funds, a group of funds that invests in development and growth stage mining companies.

Before this he held senior positions with NM Rothschild & Sons in Denver and Rothschild Australia in Sydney, and worked with Standard Chartered Bank and BHP.

Murchison Metals is an iron ore company that owns 100% of the Jack Hills Project in the northern corridor of the Mid West region of Western Australia.
James McClements says he was attracted to Murchison Metals by the enormous potential of the company and the Jack Hills Project.

"The board and senior management team have done an outstanding job in driving Murchison Metals through to the start of mining at Jack Hills in a very short time frame. The board and their team have set out an ambitious agenda for the next five years and I am looking forward to being in a position to help Murchison Metals achieve its long-term goals."