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Christine St Anne is Morningstar's online editor and Nicholas Grove is a Morningstar journalist.

BHP Billiton (BHP) chief executive Marius Kloppers will retire, the company announced on Wednesday.

Kloppers will step down from the role on 10 May 2013 and will retire from the group in October.

He will be replaced by Andrew Mackenzie, chief executive of BHP's non-ferrous division.

Mackenzie joined the mining giant in 2008 and has over 30 years of experience in the resources industry.

As part of the announcement, BHP chair Jac Nasser acknowledged the outstanding contribution made by Kloppers during his five years with the company.

"Marius was appointed chief executive just prior to the global financial crisis. Despite an exceptionally difficult economic environment during his tenure, Marius and his team have delivered for shareholders," Nasser said.

"He leaves BHP a safer and stronger company."

BHP will report its results for the first half of fiscal 2013 today.