(Reuters) - Mining group BHP said on Wednesday that Ross McEwan, a current board director, would be its new chairman after Ken MacKenzie retires on March 31.

MacKenzie was with BHP for nine years and has been chair for the last eight. He oversaw BHP's recovery from the Samarco dam disaster, the unification to a single Australian listing, an entry into Canadian potash and a workforce that is approaching gender equity.

McEwan has been an independent non-executive director at BHP since April 2024 and was previously CEO of National Australia Bank and the Royal Bank of Scotland.

He is currently a director at plumbing and bathroom products supplier Reece and at defence technology company QinetiQ Group.