BHP Group Limited announced that Brandon Craig, the company’s long‑time Americas chief, will become chief executive officer, succeeding Mike Henry on July 1, 2026. Craig has been with BHP for more than 25 years and has led the miner’s Americas operations since March 2024, overseeing iron‑ore and copper activities across the continent.
Craig’s promotion follows a period of strategic realignment under Mike Henry, who has steered BHP away from petroleum and toward a portfolio focused on copper and potash. Henry’s tenure as CEO, beginning in January 2020, has been marked by a sharp focus on shareholder value, operational safety, and a disciplined cost structure that has kept the company financially strong while it expands into higher‑margin growth projects.
BHP’s pivot to copper is driven by the metal’s critical role in electric vehicles, renewable energy, and data centers, positioning the company to benefit from the global transition to clean technology. The Jansen potash project in Canada represents a complementary move into a commodity with strong long‑term fundamentals, diversifying BHP’s revenue streams beyond its mature iron‑ore base.
Craig’s experience—leading both the Western Australia iron‑ore business, known for its low‑cost, high‑margin operations, and the Americas copper and potash portfolio—aligns closely with BHP’s current strategy. His deep operational knowledge is expected to support the execution of the company’s copper‑led growth plan while preserving the cost‑leadership advantage that has underpinned iron‑ore profitability.
Ross McEwan, BHP Chair, said, “We are very pleased an executive of Brandon Craig’s calibre and extensive experience has been appointed as our new CEO to lead the execution of our strategy. I am confident that his discipline and focus will continue to drive BHP’s high‑performance culture and advance the company’s unrivalled pipeline of growth options to maximise shareholder returns.”
Mike Henry, the outgoing CEO, added, “Under his leadership, BHP has transformed into a safer and more productive company, financially strong and sharply focused on shareholder value and social value.”
Brandon Craig, the incoming CEO, noted, “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. Mike will be remembered for his strategic decision‑making, portfolio transformation, operational excellence and focus on safety and high‑performance culture. As incoming CEO, I am committed to leading the talented and hard‑working people who make BHP a great company and continuing to generate long‑term value for all our shareholders.”
The transition follows BHP’s aborted attempt to acquire Anglo American in December 2025, a move that underscored the company’s focus on organic growth and portfolio optimisation rather than large‑scale acquisitions. The appointment of an internal candidate signals confidence in the current strategic direction and a desire for continuity as BHP pursues its copper and potash expansion while maintaining its iron‑ore cost advantage.
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