BHP Group Limited has chosen Brandon Craig to become chief executive officer from 1 July 2026, marking an orderly handover at one of the world’s largest mining companies. The company set out a timetable for the change and paired it with a broader reshuffle of senior roles to keep its regional operations running smoothly during the transition.
From 1 July this year, Jessica Farrell will take over as President North America and, on an interim basis, also oversee South America. That interim arrangement is designed to keep decision-making tight while BHP finalises longer-term leadership for its Americas portfolio. The company also said Edgar Basto will move into the newly defined role of Chief Enterprise Performance Officer from 1 September 2026, a position focused on group-level delivery and coordination across assets.
The staged dates show how BHP intends to separate immediate operational coverage from the longer, two-year runway to the top job. Naming the next chief executive officer well in advance gives the board time to manage handovers, align regional leaders, and keep projects and safety programmes on track without abrupt changes. An interim appointment in South America limits gaps in oversight while the company completes its selection process.
The update matters in South Africa because BHP has a listing on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and its output in iron ore, copper and coal helps set global benchmarks that influence local miners’ earnings and export prices. A clear succession plan at a company of BHP’s scale can shape expectations for production, spending and partnerships across markets where South African firms compete or supply into global commodity chains.
For more detail, read the full announcement.