Former Origin boss joins BHP Billiton board

Australian energy company BHP Billiton has appointed former Origin Energy CEO as a new independent non-executive director.

BHP Billiton said on Thursday that the new board member, Grant King, would join the board effective March 1, 2017.

King was the Origin Energy CEO from February 2000 to November 2016 following the company’s demerger from Boral Limited. After he decided to retire from the company, he was succeeded by Frank Calabria, former CEO of Origin’s Energy Markets Business. Between 1994 and 2000, he served as Managing Director of Boral Energy.

He is also the President of the Business Council of Australia and a Director of the University of New South Wales Foundation Ltd and the Origin Foundation Limited

BHP Billiton chairman, Jac Nasser, said that King’s appointment reflected the company’s commitment to a structured and rigorous approach to board succession and planning, having regard to the skills, experience, and attributes required to govern the business effectively.

“Grant is an excellent appointment, and he will bring strategic thinking, immense intellect, and his ability to apply a long term view. He has extensive executive experience leading a company that has operated in a volatile and changing global environment, and broad oil and gas industry experience,” said Nasser.

King will be succeeding Pat Davies, who has been a non-executive director at BHP since June 2012. Davies will retire from the board in April 2017 to focus on his family business and to pursue other interests.

Nasser added: “We wish Pat all the best for the future and we will miss his insights and perspectives.”

After the appointment of King and the retirement of Davies, there will be ten non-executive directors on the BHP Billiton board.