New Base Metals President

BHP Billiton Limited
04 March 2004


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         EMBARGO:  1pm, Thursday 4 March 2004
  Date                 4 March 2004
  Number               12/04

               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

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