Date 29 August 2001 Number 12/01 BHP BILLITON PLC APPOINTS COMPANY SECRETARY BHP Billiton Plc today announced the appointment of Karen Wood as Company Secretary, with immediate effect. In addition to her new role, Ms Wood will continue in her current position as Company Secretary of BHP Billiton Limited. Ms Wood's appointment follows the resignation of former BHP Billiton Plc Company Secretary, Michael Nesbitt, earlier this year. Ms Wood will be supported in her role by existing deputy company secretaries - Mary Taylor based in London and Roger Taylor based in Melbourne. Mary Taylor will also continue as Company Secretary for the BHP Billiton Plc subsidiary companies based in Europe and Africa. The appointment of Ms Wood is consistent with the dual listed companies structure which manages BHP Billiton Plc and BHP Billiton Limited, with a unified Board and management team, and will enhance the ability of the companies to work in an integrated fashion to ensure the continuous improvement of Board operating practices and the Group's corporate governance framework. Australia Dr. Robert Porter, Investor Relations Tel: + 61 3 9609 3540 Mobile: +61 419 587 456 email: Robert.Porter@bhpbilliton.com United Kingdom Marc Gonsalves, Investor Relations & Communications Tel: +44 20 7747 3956 Mobile: +44 7768 264 950 email: Marc.Gonsalves@bhpbilliton.com Mandy Frostick, Media Relations Tel: +61 3 9609 4157 Mobile: +61 419 546 245 email: Mandy.J.Frostick@bhpbilliton.com South Africa Michael Campbell, Investor & Media Relations Tel: +27 11 376 3360 Mobile: +27 82 458 2587 email: Michael.J.Campbell@bhpbilliton.com United States Francis McAllister, Investor Relations Tel: +1 713 961 8625 Mobile: +1 713 480 3699 email: Francis.R.McAllister@bhpbilliton.com