Board Appointment

BHP Billiton Limited
29 November 2002


BHP Billiton Limited is issuing this announcement to fulfil disclosure
obligations arising from its secondary listing on the London Stock Exchange.
The text of this release is identical to that issued by BHP Billiton Plc 
earlier.


BHP BILLITON ANNOUNCES BOARD APPOINTMENT- DR JOHN BUCHANAN

BHP Billiton today announced the appointment of Dr John Buchanan to the BHP
Billiton Board, effective 1st February, 2003. John Buchanan was formerly BP
Executive Director and Group Chief Financial Officer, and will act as the Senior
Independent Director of BHP Billiton Plc.

Announcing the appointment, BHP Billiton Chairman Don Argus said: 'The Board is
pleased to have secured the services of John Buchanan with his wide
international business career, depth of experience in the petroleum industry and
his knowledge of the UK investment community.

'John Buchanan has had a distinguished career with BP and his appointment will
further strengthen the Board. He will bring valuable expertise and insights to
the BHP Billiton Group.'

Mr Argus also paid tribute to former BHP Billiton Deputy Chairman John Jackson,
who retired from the Board in November 2002, for his outstanding service to BHP
Billiton and the former Billiton Board during the past five years.

'Mr Jackson made a significant contribution to the BHP Billiton Board and, as
Senior Independent Director of Billiton plc, played a key role in the merger
integration process at Board level.

'The Board benefited immeasurably from his insight, wise counsel and broad
business expertise and his contribution as Chairman of the Board Remuneration
Committee, in particular, proved invaluable,' said Mr Argus.

Further information 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: [phone]     Tel: [phone]
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Tracey Whitehead, Media Relations                 South Africa
Tel: [phone]  Mobile: [phone]     Michael Campbell, Investor & Media Relations
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                                                  email: [e-mail]
United States
Francis McAllister, Investor Relations
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email: Francis. R. [e-mail]
 



BUCHANAN, Dr John
Senior Non-Executive Director 
BHP Billiton, 2002

Career

BP Plc,1970-2002 
Group Chief Financial Officer,1996-2002;
Previously Group Treasurer and Director of Finance, Head of Group Corporate 
Planning for British Petroleum Plc, Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Chief 
Executive for BP Chemicals.

Committees, industry bodies & professional associations

Non-Executive Director The Boots Company Plc
(Remuneration, Audit)

Non-Executive Director Astra Zeneca plc (Remuneration, Audit)

Member of UK Accountancy Standards Board (1997-2001)

Personal

Born: June 9,1943, New Zealand

Education: BSc, MSc (First Class Honours), PhD in
Chemistry, Auckland University, New Zealand

ICI Sponsored Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship in Organic
Chemistry, Wolfson College, Oxford University

PMD Programme, Harvard Business School

Family: Married, two children.



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