Company Secretary Appointed

BHP Billiton Limited
29 August 2001


    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.


NEWS RELEASE
Release Time                         IMMEDIATE
Date                                 29 August 2001
Number                               12/01

                 BHP BILLITON PLC APPOINTS COMPANY SECRETARY

BHP Billiton Plc today announced the appointment of Karen Wood as Company
Secretary, with immediate effect. In addition to her new role, Ms Wood will
continue in her current position as Company Secretary of BHP Billiton Limited.


Ms Wood's appointment follows the resignation of former BHP Billiton Plc
Company Secretary, Michael Nesbitt, earlier this year.

Ms Wood will be supported in her role by existing deputy company secretaries -
Mary Taylor based in London and Roger Taylor based in Melbourne. Mary Taylor
will also continue as Company Secretary for the BHP Billiton Plc subsidiary
companies based in Europe and Africa.

The appointment of Ms Wood is consistent with the dual listed companies
structure which manages BHP Billiton Plc and BHP Billiton Limited, with a
unified Board and management team, and will enhance the ability of the
companies to work in an integrated fashion to ensure the continuous
improvement of Board operating practices and the Group's corporate governance
framework.


Australia                              United Kingdom

Dr. Robert Porter, Investor Relations  Marc Gonsalves, Investor Relations &
                                       Communications
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Mandy Frostick, Media Relations        South Africa

Tel: [phone]                   Michael Campbell, Investor & Media
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                                       United States

                                       Francis McAllister, Investor Relations

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