BHP Names Australian Projects Boss as Next CFO — Update

By Rhiannon Hoyle

BHP Group has picked Australian projects head Adrian Wood as its next chief financial officer, as the world's biggest miner by market value sharpens its focus on delivering major new developments in potash and copper.

Wood will succeed Vandita Pant, who joined BHP a decade ago and has held the role since early 2024. Pant is expected to step down following release of BHP's half-year results on Feb. 16, although she will remain with the company until March 29 to support a smooth transition, BHP said in a statement Thursday.

Pant has decided to leave Melbourne-based BHP and return to the U.K., said a person familiar with the matter. Pant joined the miner in 2016 as group treasurer and head of Europe, based in the U.K.

The change follows the promotion of former Americas chief Brandon Craig to chief executive. Craig, who became CEO of BHP on July 1, assumed the role promising to strengthen project delivery as the miner expands in copper--an industrial metal in demand for electric vehicles and data centers--and the fertilizer ingredient potash.

BHP has been grappling with delays and cost overruns at a giant potash project in Canada, while working to progress a pipeline of copper projects across Chile, Australia and Argentina.

"We are investing significantly in our project execution capability," Craig told its annual shareholder meeting last month. "Our commitment is to execute projects safely, on time, on budget and with a clear focus on shareholder value."

Pant will be the second senior executive to exit since Craig's appointment. Ragnar Udd, the miner's chief commercial officer, has said he will leave at the end of January to become CEO of Albemarle.

Wood joined BHP in 2015 and is currently vice president of projects for the company's Minerals Australia division. He previously held a finance role in that business and also served as group investor relations officer.

"Adrian has a strong track record of financial management, strategic thinking and commercial capability," Craig said in the statement Thursday. "His appointment ensures that we continue to build organizational capacity, with the right mix of skills, experience and perspectives to deliver BHP's strategy."

Write to Rhiannon Hoyle at rhiannon.hoyle@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

November 11, 2026 19:51 ET (00:51 GMT)