Date 29/11/2002 Number 58/02 BHP BILLITON ANNOUNCES BOARD APPOINTMENT - DR JOHN BUCHANAN BHP Billiton today announced the appointment of Dr John Buchanan to the BHP Billiton Board, effective 1st February, 2003. John Buchanan was formerly BP Executive Director and Group Chief Financial Officer, and will act as the Senior Independent Director of BHP Billiton Plc. Announcing the appointment, BHP Billiton Chairman Don Argus said: "The Board is pleased to have secured the services of John Buchanan with his wide international business career, depth of experience in the petroleum industry and his knowledge of the UK investment community. "John Buchanan has had a distinguished career with BP and his appointment will further strengthen the Board. He will bring valuable expertise and insights to the BHP Billiton Group." Mr Argus also paid tribute to former BHP Billiton Deputy Chairman John Jackson, who retired from the Board in November 2002, for his outstanding service to BHP Billiton and the former Billiton Board during the past five years. "Mr Jackson made a significant contribution to the BHP Billiton Board and, as Senior Independent Director of Billiton plc, played a key role in the merger integration process at Board level. "The Board benefited immeasurably from his insight, wise counsel and broad business expertise and his contribution as Chairman of the Board Remuneration Committee, in particular, proved invaluable," said Mr Argus. Further information can be found on our Internet site: http://www.bhpbilliton.com Australia Andrew Nairn, Investor Relations Tel: + 61 3 9609 3952 Mobile: +61 408 313 259 email: Andrew.W.Nairn@bhpbilliton.com Tracey Whitehead, Media Relations Tel: +61 3 9609 4202 Mobile: +61 419 404 978 Email: Tracey.Whitehead@bhpbilliton.com United Kingdom Mark Lidiard, Investor & Media Relations Tel: +44 20 7747 3956 email: Mark.Lidiard@bhpbilliton.com South Africa Michael Campbell, Investor & Media Relations Tel: +27 11 376 3360 Mobile: +27 82 458 2587 email: Michael.J.Campbell@bhpbilliton.com United States Francis McAllister, Investor Relations Tel: +1 713 961 8625 Mobile: +1 713 480 3699 email: Francis.R.McAllister@bhpbilliton.com CV -- BUCHANAN, Dr John Senior Non-Executive Director BHP Billiton, 2002 Career BP Plc, 1970-2002 Group Chief Financial Officer, 1996-2002; Previously Group Treasurer and Director of Finance, Head of Group Corporate Planning for British Petroleum Plc, Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Chief Executive for BP Chemicals. Committees, industry bodies & professional associations Non-Executive Director The Boots Company Plc (Remuneration, Audit) Non-Executive Director Astra Zeneca plc (Remuneration, Audit) Member of UK Accountancy Standards Board (1997-2001) Personal Born: June 9, 1943, New Zealand Education: BSc, MSc (First Class Honours), PhD in Chemistry, Auckland University, New Zealand ICI Sponsored Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship in Organic Chemistry, Wolfson College, Oxford University PMD Programme, Harvard Business School Family: Married, two children.