BHP Says Maxsted Named Chairman Of Risk And Audit Committee

BHP Billiton Ltd. (BHP) said Wednesday board member Lindsay Maxsted has been appointed chairman of its risk and audit committee.

Maxsted replaces David Crawford who retired from the post and will at the board's request stand for re-election as a non executive director.

"Lindsay Maxsted has extensive experience in corporate restructuring and financial control, and is very well equipped to lead our risk and audit committee," said Jac Nasser, chairman of the Anglo-Australia resources giant.

Maxsted, who has been chairman of toll road developer Transurban Group (TCL.AU) since August 2010, joined BHP's board in March and has been a member of the audit committee since June. He also is a director at Westpac Banking Corp. (WBC.AU) and between 2001 and 2007 was chief executive of KPMG Australia.

BHP said Crawford--who has been a director of BHP Ltd. since 1994 and chairman of brewer Foster's Group Ltd. (FGL.AU) since 2007--will stand for re-election at the upcoming annual general meeting.

-By Robb M. Stewart, Dow Jones Newswires; [phone]; [e-mail]