BHP Americas President, Brandon Craig, has been appointed amid concerns about the retention of senior female talent in mining. The appointment highlights a tension in the industry, where workforce gender balance has improved but not at the highest levels. While successful in succession planning, passing over female executives risks deterring talent, according to investors and recruiters. S&P Global Commodity Insights' data showed women filled 12.1% of the highest-ranking executive positions across more than 2,000 publicly listed miners globally by 2023. BHP said women make up 43% of its global workforce and pledged in 2016 to have 40% female staff by 2025.