America calling for BHP’s ex-nickel boss Jessica Farrell as incoming CEO Brandon Craig shuffles exec ranks

Jessica Farrell, the former boss of BHP’s now shuttered WA nickel assets, has been handed the keys to The Big Australian’s North American assets as the miner shuffles its executive ranks ahead of Brandon Craig’s inauguration as chief executive next week.

Ms Farrell was name vice-president innovation after the world’s biggest miner closed down its Nickel West business in late 2024 amid a catastrophic slump in prices for the metal.

BHP announced on Friday she would bring her two decades of experience across a range of commodities and jurisdictions to bear on the role of president North America.

The miner will now split the role of president Americas, currently held by Mr Craig, into separate divisions for north and south “to allow a greater focus on each of these regions”.

Ms Farrel will be thrown into the fire when she starts next Tuesday after BHP last week reported yet another multibillion-dollar cost blowout at its giant Jansen potash mine in Canada.

Jansen’s phase two expansion is now estimated to cost $US6.9b ($9.8b), which adds to a ballooning $US8.4b bill for stage one of the mine. Stage one is now almost 50 per cent above the original budget.

The miner’s mixed bet on the fertiliser ingredient will see it book a $US2.3b writedown in its annual results.

Ms Farrel will also act as president South America while BHP starts a recruitment process to fill the role.

Among the other executive leadership team changes, former WA Iron Ore president and president for minerals Australia Edgar Basto will move from his current role of chief operating officer to become chief enterprise performance officer.

He will be responsible for BHP’s health safety and security and its operating system, as well as strengthening contractor safety.

Geraldine Slattery, who had been tipped as a candidate to replace outgoing CEO Mike Henry, will continue as president Australia.

She will also take on responsibility for BHP’s copper assets in South Australia, bringing all of the Australian operating assets together under her leadership.

Mr Craig — the former boss of the vast Pilbara’s iron ore division who was named as Mr Henry’s successor in March — said the changes “ensure that we continue to build organisational capacity, with the right mix of skills, experience and perspectives to deliver BHP’s strategy and pursue our growth agenda”.

“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,” he said.

“As incoming CEO, I look forward to leading the talented people who make BHP a great company and I am confident that the new appointments will support BHP’s progress in strategy, operating performance, growth and our differentiated approach to social value creation — all in support of strong long-term shareholder returns.”