App Pres Metallurgical Coal

BHP Billiton Limited
27 January 2005

     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.

Date                 27 January 2005
Number               05/05

               BHP BILLITON APPOINTS PRESIDENT METALLURGICAL COAL



BHP Billiton today announced the appointment of Dave Murray to a new position of
President Metallurgical Coal, effective immediately.

Announcing the appointment, Carbon Steel Materials Group President, Bob Kirkby,
said that the new position would provide a global focus for the coking coal
business, with responsibility for all BHP Billiton's metallurgical coal
operations and interests including Queensland Coal and Illawarra Coal in
Australia and the Maruwai project in Indonesia, as well as marketing, strategy
and business development.

Mr Murray will move from his current role as Chief Executive Officer of BHP
Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance based in Brisbane, to Melbourne, and will join BHP
Billiton's Executive Committee.

The announcement follows the recent appointments of Graeme Hunt to President BHP
Billiton Iron Ore, with responsibility for the company's global iron ore
operations, and Ian Ashby to President and Chief Operating Officer, Western
Australian Iron Ore, reporting to Mr Hunt.

Further information on BHP Billiton can be found on our Internet site: 
http://www.bhpbilliton.com

Australia                                                     United Kingdom
Jane Belcher, Investor Relations                              Mark Lidiard, Investor & Media Relations
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Tania Price, Media Relations                                  Ariane Gentil, Media Relations
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Francis McAllister, Investor Relations                        Michael Campbell, Investor & Media Relations
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Background information

David Murray

Prior to his appointment as President Metallurgical Coal, Mr Murray was Chief
Executive Officer, BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance Coal from August 2001.

From 1999 to 2001, Mr Murray was Chief Executive Billiton Coal and from 1993 to
1999, he was Managing Director of Trans-Natal Coal Corporation/Ingwe Coal Corp.

Mr Murray started his career in 1978 as a Trainee Mining Engineer with Gencor
Limited and has worked in the coal industry throughout. He serves as a director
of the World Coal Institute and of the Queensland Mining Council.

Career

Chief Executive Officer, BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance Coal 2001-2005; Chief
Executive Billiton Coal, 1999-2001; Managing Director, Trans-Natal Coal
Corporation/Ingwe Coal Corp. 1993-1999; Senior Manager Projects and Technical,
Trans-Natal Coal Corporation, 1991-1993; Group Manager Projects, Trans-Natal
Coal Corporation; Group Manager Technical, Trans-Natal Coal Corporation
1988-1989; Area Manager Operations, Trans-Natal 1988; Mine Manager/Acting
General Manager, Optimum Colliery 1986-1987; Project Engineer, Trans-Natal 1984;
Underground Manager, Matla Coal Limited 1982- 1984; Senior Technical Assistant,
Matla Coal Limited 1982; Technical Assistant, Optimum Colliery 1980-1981; Miner/
Shiftboss, Hlobane Colliery 1979-1980; Student/Trainee Mining Engineer, Gencor
Limited 1978-1979.

Personal

BSc Civil Engineering, Natal University, South Africa, 1978

Post Graduate Diploma in Engineering, Pretoria University, South Africa, 1979

Advanced Executive Program, UNISA, 1985

Married with two children


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