BHP eyes Geraldine Slattery for CEO role, FT reports

[Ben Graham]

BHP Group (ASX, NYSE, LSE: BHP) could appoint Geraldine Slattery, president of its Australia operations, as the company’s first female chief executive in its 140-year history, the Financial Times reported on Friday.

If appointed, Slattery would join a short list of women to lead a major global mining company. One of the most notable was Cynthia Carroll, who became the first woman to head Anglo American in 2007, serving until 2012.

Succession planning underway

Current CEO Mike Henry is expected to step down by mid-2026 after five years in the role, according to the FT report, which cited people familiar with the board’s thinking. BHP has said its directors are “not in a rush” to name his successor.

The appointment will mark one of the first major decisions under Ross McEwan, who became BHP’s chair in March. The former chief executive of Royal Bank of Scotland and National Australia Bank has been leading the search for Henry’s replacement.

Other potential candidates reportedly in contention include Vandita Pant, BHP’s chief financial officer; Ragnar Udd, the company’s chief commercial officer; and Brandon Craig, head of the Americas.

Slattery’s background

Slattery has spent three decades at BHP, holding senior leadership positions across its global operations. She previously ran the company’s U.S. petroleum business and oversaw its push into shale before becoming head of BHP Petroleum.

Born in Ireland, Slattery emigrated to Australia in the 1990s, where she initially worked at CSL, a blood plasma company, before joining BHP.

If confirmed, Slattery would become one of the few female chief executives in the mining industry. Other notable figures include Mpumi Zikalala, CEO of Kumba Iron Ore in South Africa, and Mfikeyi Makayi, who heads KoBold Metals’ Zambian copper unit.

(With files from Reuters)