BHP Group Limited (ASX: BHP) has announced that Brandon Craig will become Chief Executive Officer and a Director of BHP Group Limited effective 1 Jul 2026. The BHP management changes follow a formal CEO succession process, with outgoing CEO Mike Henry stepping down after six and a half years in the role.
Figure 1: BHP corporate office exterior with company branding displayed on the building facade [Courtesy: Jeweller Magazine]
BHP Chair Ross McEwan described the appointment as the result of a thorough process.
He said: “I am confident that his discipline and focus will continue to drive BHP’s high-performance culture.”
Brandon Craig’s Background and Track Record at BHP
More Than 25 Years of Operational and Corporate Leadership
The BHP mining company CEO update brings an internal successor to the top role. Brandon Craig has been with BHP since 1999 and has built more than 25 years of operational and corporate leadership experience across a broad range of commodities.
Figure 2: Brandon Craig, incoming Chief Executive Officer of BHP Group Limited [Courtesy: NewsnReleases]
Mr Craig is currently BHP’s President Americas, where he has been responsible for leading the Company’s growth strategy across Canada, the United States, and South America. During his time in the role, BHP became the world’s largest copper producer and advanced high-quality growth options in copper and potash.
Key Achievements in the Americas and Western Australia
Prior to his Americas role, Mr Craig led BHP’s Western Australia Iron Ore business, improving operational performance and reinforcing BHP’s position as the lowest cost, highest margin major iron ore producer in the world. That role demonstrated his ability to deliver strong performance across an integrated business spanning mines, rail, and port operations.
Under his leadership in the Americas, Mr Craig also oversaw the creation of the Vicuña joint venture, a highly prospective project with the potential to become one of the world’s top copper and gold mines. BHP’s Jansen potash project in Canada is on track to begin operations in mid-2027, adding a significant new commodity to the Company’s portfolio.
Incoming CEO Commits to Long-Term Value Creation
Mr Craig described the appointment as an honour and a privilege. He acknowledged outgoing CEO Mike Henry’s contribution in positioning BHP well for the future and committed to leading BHP’s people with a focus on long-term value for all shareholders.
As part of the BHP executive leadership transition, Mr Craig stated he would work closely with the Board and management to take the Company forward. He flagged continued commitment to generating long-term value, building on BHP’s culture of safety, and advancing the Company’s copper and potash growth pipeline.
Mike Henry’s Legacy at BHP
A Tenure Defined by Transformation and Shareholder Returns
The BHP management changes mark the end of Mike Henry’s tenure as CEO, a period during which BHP transformed into a simpler, more focused business. Under Mr Henry’s leadership, BHP demerged its Petroleum business, high-graded its coal portfolio, simplified its listing structure, and pivoted firmly toward copper and potash as future-facing commodities.
Figure 3: Mike Henry, outgoing Chief Executive Officer of BHP Group Limited [Courtesy: BHP]
BHP established itself as the world’s largest copper producer under Mr Henry, with over half of BHP’s recent half-year earnings sourced from copper. Average Total Shareholder Returns were approximately 17 per cent per annum during his tenure, and BHP returned approximately US$80 billion to shareholders across that period.
Safety, Culture, and Emissions Performance Under Henry
Mr Henry also led a strong focus on safety and high-performance culture through the BHP Operating System. The Company achieved a gender-balanced workforce, a 30 per cent reduction in operational greenhouse gas emissions, and stronger partnerships with Indigenous peoples during his time as CEO.
Outgoing CEO Mike Henry said it had been a privilege to serve in the role and work alongside talented people across the organisation. He described BHP as safer, higher performing, and better positioned for future growth than when he took the role, and expressed full confidence in Mr Craig as his successor.
BHP Share Price
BHP Group Limited (ASX: BHP) is currently trading at A$50.010 per share. The Company carries a market capitalisation of A$252.57 billion. The 52-week range stands at A$33.250 to A$59.390 per share.
Figure 4: BHP share price performance over the past year [Courtesy: ASX]
Industry Outlook
BHP executive leadership transitions of this kind carry significance beyond the Company itself, given BHP’s scale as one of the world’s largest diversified miners. The appointment of an internal successor with deep operational experience in copper and potash aligns with BHP’s strategic direction at a time when demand for critical minerals is expected to grow materially through the coming decades. BHP management changes that maintain continuity of strategy while bringing fresh operational focus are generally viewed positively by institutional investors in the resources sector.
Future Direction and Impact
The BHP mining company CEO update sets the stage for a leadership era centred on copper growth, potash development, and continued operational excellence. With the Jansen potash project on track for mid-2027, copper production targets being advanced for FY2026 and FY2027, and the Vicuña joint venture offering significant long-term upside, Mr Craig inherits a Company with a clearly defined strategic pipeline.
Mike Henry will continue as CEO until 30 Jun 2026 and will remain available to provide transition support through to 30 Nov 2026. For those following BHP management changes and the broader resources sector, the 1 Jul 2026 handover date will be the next key milestone in this BHP executive leadership transition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Who will replace Mike Henry as BHP CEO?
Ans. Brandon Craig will become CEO and Director of BHP from 1 July 2026 following a formal succession process.
Q2. What is Brandon Craig’s background?
Ans. Craig has been with BHP since 1999, with over 25 years of experience. He currently leads the Americas division and previously headed Western Australia Iron Ore.
Q3. When does the leadership transition take place?
Ans. Craig assumes the CEO role on 1 July 2026. Mike Henry will support the transition until 30 November 2026.
Q4. What were Mike Henry’s key achievements?
Ans. He led BHP’s shift toward copper and potash, returned ~US$80 billion to shareholders, and delivered ~17% annual returns while simplifying the business.
Q5. What are Craig’s priorities as CEO?
Ans. He will focus on long-term value creation, expanding copper and potash, and maintaining BHP’s performance and safety culture.
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Sources
BHP Group Limited — Exchange Release: Brandon Craig to succeed Mike Henry as BHP CEO, 18 Mar 2026 https://data-api.marketindex.com.au/api/v1/announcements/XASX:BHP:3A689629/pdf/inline/brandon-craig-to-succeed-mike-henry-as-bhp-ceo?_gl=1*1p8i2zo*_ga*MTcwODQzODA4Ni4xNzYyMjUxMTk2*_ga_R504V9JPBH*czE3NzM3OTIxNTckbzk1JGcxJHQxNzczNzkyMjU1JGo1NyRsMCRoMA..
ASX Market Data — BHP Group Limited (ASX: BHP) https://www.asx.com.au/markets/company/BHP
