BHP and Woodside Energy announce new CEOs amid leadership transitions and corporate milestones
Consensus Summary
BHP and Woodside Energy have announced leadership changes with Brandon Craig taking over as BHP’s CEO from Mike Henry on July 1, 2025, after a six-and-a-half-year tenure during which BHP became the world’s largest copper producer. Craig, who previously led BHP’s Americas operations and iron ore division in Western Australia, will earn a base salary of $1.9 million USD with substantial performance-based incentives, though still less than Henry’s $19 million total compensation last year. Meanwhile, Woodside Energy named Elizabeth Westcott as its permanent CEO, succeeding Meg O’Neill, with Westcott’s role tied to major projects like the Scarborough Energy Project and a 40-year extension for the North West Shelf gas project. The transition coincides with a US Federal Court blocking a BHP-Rio Tinto mining venture in Arizona, a decision criticized by former President Donald Trump as anti-American. Both appointments reflect strategic shifts in Australia’s largest mining and energy firms amid evolving market and regulatory landscapes.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Brandon Craig will become BHP’s chief executive and director from July 1, 2025, succeeding Mike Henry
- Mike Henry served as BHP’s CEO since 2020 and oversaw the company becoming the world’s largest copper producer during his tenure
- Brandon Craig previously held the role of BHP Americas president and led the company’s iron ore operations in Western Australia
- BHP’s market value makes it one of Australia’s biggest companies by market capitalization
- Elizabeth Westcott was appointed Woodside Energy’s permanent CEO and managing director, succeeding Meg O’Neill
- Elizabeth Westcott has served as Woodside’s acting CEO since December 2024 and previously worked at ExxonMobil for 25 years
- Woodside’s North West Shelf gas project received a 40-year extension approved by the Environmental Protection Authority in September 2025
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Brandon Craig stated in a statement: ‘It is an honour and privilege to succeed Mike Henry as CEO of BHP. Thanks to his leadership, BHP is well positioned for the future’
- No mention of Brandon Craig’s salary details or performance-based incentives
- Brandon Craig’s base salary will be $1.9 million USD ($2.67 million AUD), with 10% allocated to superannuation and potential bonuses up to 3.6 times his base salary
- Mike Henry earned $19 million in ‘realised pay’ in the last financial year, ranking him as the sixth-highest paid CEO in the ASX 200
- Brandon Craig’s promotion follows a joint copper mining venture between BHP and Rio Tinto being blocked by the US Federal Court in Arizona due to a challenge from Native Americans and environmental groups
- Elizabeth Westcott’s ‘fixed annual reward’ (FAR) will be $2.3 million, including base salary, benefits, and performance-based bonuses up to 2.7 times her FAR (short-term) and 3 times her FAR (long-term)
- Woodside’s Scarborough Energy Project and Bass Strait operator transition were led by Elizabeth Westcott during her tenure as Australian Operations head
- Donald Trump criticized the US Federal Court’s decision on the BHP-Rio Tinto mining venture as ‘anti-American’ and linked to the ‘Radical Left’
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- No contradictions found between the sources on core factual claims
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