BHP offered no explanation for the departure, but said current aluminium division vice-president, finance David Richardson would assume the role of acting president, aluminium.

Following his early departure from Avalon Minerals, Andrew Munckton has emerged as the new managing director of copper explorer Syndicated Metals.

A strategic review prompted the junior explorer to revamp its board and former Jubilee Mines executive Peter Langworthy has been appointed as non-executive chairman and former Sundance Resources study manager David Morgan has been appointed as operations director.

Founding MD Russell Davis will step down from the board and Bruce McCullagh will remain as company secretary but will retire as a director after a transition period.

GME Resources is another junior to announce a restructure this week after MD David Varcoe's resignation.

Executive director James Sullivan has been appointed as MD and the company will relocate its office to share with another company to cut costs.

Former Extract Minerals director Neil Maclachlan has replaced Melissa Sturgess as non-executive chairman of Nyota Minerals.

Sturgess will remain as a consultant to the company.

Tony Alston has resigned as MD of Krucible Metals for personal reasons, but will remain as a non-executive director.

Creat Resources CEO Allan Branch has accepted the position and will join Krucible in about three months.

Corporate finance executive Vince Fayad has joined the board of East Coast Minerals as an executive director.

Nigel Little has resigned as a director and Sevag Chalabian has been appointed as non-executive chairman.

Allen Lyons has resigned as a director of Western Manganese.

Fund manager Viento Group has appointed shareholder and NRW Holdings founder John Silverthorne to the board to assist in the development of a mining services division.

Finally, Sarah Shipway has replaced Marcus Michael as company secretary of St George Mining.