In a major leadership reshuffle at BHP, Vandita Pant moves from her role as chief commercial officer (CCO) to chief financial officer (CFO). She succeeds current CFO David Lamont who will remain with BHP until February 2025 as a senior executive officer in an advisory and projects capacity, reporting directly to the CEO.
The CCO role vacated by Pant will be taken on by Rag Udd, who is moving from his role as president, Americas. That position will be taken on in turn by Brandon Craig who moves from his role as asset president at Western Australia Iron Ore.
Johan van Jaarsveld, currently BHP's chief development officer (CDO), has been appointed chief technical officer (CTO).
The new appointments come into effect on 1 March 2024.
BHP CEO Henry said that the appointments will ensure that the company “continue[s] to build organisational capacity, with the right mix of skills, experience and perspectives to deliver BHP’s strategy and pursue our growth agenda".
He said: "Our operating environment is increasingly complex, but also rich in opportunity for companies that are best able to positively engage stakeholders, deploy capital to the right opportunities in a disciplined way and deliver safe, reliable operational performance."
Henry added that BHP continues to make "significant progress" on its strategy, delivering "strong operating performance, an enhanced portfolio, more strongly-leveraged to the megatrends shaping the world, improved growth options, and a differentiated approach to social value creation – all in support of strong long-term shareholder returns.”
‘Focused on growth’: The key appointments at BHP
CFO: Vandita Pant Currently CCO, Pant joined BHP in 2016 and was previously group treasurer and head of Europe. She has more than 20 years’ experience in executive banking roles across India, Singapore, Japan and the UK, including with ABN Amro and Royal Bank of Scotland.
CCO: Rag Udd Currently president Americas, Udd was appointed in November 2020. He brings more than 25 years of experience in the global resources industry in North America, Australia and South America. He has previously held senior roles at BHP including in Western Australia Iron Ore, BMA and Technology.
President Americas: Brandon Craig Currently Asset president at Western Australia Iron Ore, Craig joined BHP in 1999 and has previously held aluminium, corporate and coal leadership roles.
CTO: Johan van Jaarsveld Currently CDO, van Jaarsveld has led strategy, acquisitions and divestments, securing early-stage growth options in future-facing commodities, capital prioritisation and decision evaluation. Prior to joining BHP in2020, van Jaarsveld held executive positions in resources and finance and has more than 25 years of experience, working across Asia, Canada, Australia and South Africa. He will succeed Laura Tyler, who will leave BHP in February 2024. The new CDO will be announced separately, a BHP spokesperson said in a statement.
