BHP Billiton Limited
(ASX:BHP) has posted a 58 per cent fall in its first half net profit and announced the resignation of its chief.
Australia’s largest mining company has reported a net profit $US4.1 billion, hit by weak commodity prices and a strong Australian dollar in the last six months of 2012.
The resources giant says CEO Marius Kloppers will step down on May 10, 2013 and will be succeeded by the head of its non-ferrous division Andrew MacKenzie.
The announcement comes just week after rival miner Rio Tinto Limited
(ASX:RIO) announced its CEO Tom Albanese will be replaced by Sam Walsh after the company booked a full year net loss of $US2.9 billion.
BHP has declared a fully franked interim dividend of $US0.57 per share, up 3.6 per cent from $US0.55 the year before.
