By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Jan. 6 -- BHP Billiton Ltd. and BHP Billiton PLC appointed Charles Goodyear as chief executive effective immediately to replace Brian Gilbertson, who resigned because of what BHP Billiton called "irreconcilable differences" with its board.
Goodyear will move from London to the company's headquarters in Melbourne. He formerly was executive vice-president and chief financial officer of Freeport-McMoRan Inc., New Orleans.
Goodyear joined BHP in 1999 as chief financial officer and has served as chief development officer for the BHP Billiton group since June 2001. He was appointed an executive director in November 2001.
As chief development officer, Goodyear supervised the group's portfolio management activities worldwide, its strategy development, and its corporate activity.
