Two ex-bank bosses have taken up key roles with Fortescue and BHP, with the Big Australian appointing former National Australia Bank chief Ross McEwan as its new chairman.
Two ex-bank bosses have taken up key roles with Fortescue and BHP, with the Big Australian appointing former National Australia Bank chief Ross McEwan as its new chairman.
BHP today formally announced its long-standing chair Ken MacKenzie will retire at the end of March to be succeeded by experienced banking executive and current board director Mr McEwan.
The Big Australian’s outgoing chair Mr MacKenzie first joined the board in 2016 and has steered the mining giant as chairman since September 2017. An informal nine-year limit stands for directorships at BHP.
“It has been a privilege to serve as the chair of BHP for the last 8 years and as a director for 9 years and I am proud of what the board and management has achieved during that time,” Mr MacKenzie said in a statement.
“BHP is a simpler, more productive and more resilient company and this has been a result of a talented and committed team focused on creating sustainable long-term value for our shareholders, our supply chain, partners and our communities.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank my fellow board members as well as the broader BHP team for their dedication to the ongoing success of BHP.”
Incoming chair Mr McEwan has been on the board of BHP since April 2024, serving as an independent non-executive director.
He picked up the role after running National Australia Bank from 2019 to April 2024, and prior to that was group chief executive of Royal Bank of Scotland.
The key appointment follows a formal chair succession process that was led by the miner’s senior independent director Gary Goldberg.
Mr McEwan said it was an honour and privilege to succeed Ken MacKenzie as chair.
“Under his leadership, the company is simpler, more agile and well positioned for the future,” he said in a statement.
“Ken will be remembered for his strategic decision-making, active institutional and retail shareholder engagement and outstanding capacity to see value, whether that’s in strategy, portfolio, operational excellence or capital allocation.”
Meanwhile, Andrew Forrest-led Fortescue has tapped former HSBC group chief executive Noel Quinn as a non-executive director.
The new board member was previously chief executive of HSBC's global commercial banking division.
Fortescue executive chair Andrew Forrest said Mr Quinn's "deep understanding of the complexities of the global financial landscape will be invaluable as Fortescue continues to diversify into new markets and grow as a green technology, energy and metals group".
