BHP is likely to name the first female CEO of its 140-year history.

The Financial Times reported that BHP Group will likely appoint Geraldine slattery as its first woman chief executive since 140 years. Slattery is the head of the miner's Australia operation.

The report cited unnamed "people familiar with the board's thoughts" as saying that CEO Mike Henry will step down in the middle of 2026, after five years.

According to a report in the FT, the company said that the board "was not in a hurry" to make a new change.

BHP didn't immediately respond to an inquiry for comment.

Slattery, who has worked at BHP since 1990, was previously the head of BHP's U.S. Petroleum business.

Peer Rio Tinto has also appointed an insider, Simon Trott, to the top position. Trott was appointed in mid-July. Trott previously headed the company's largest iron ore division.

BHP, world's largest listed miner, rotates its top talent regularly through key roles. Internal CEO candidates are mentored by the board chair and other members of the company for years as a kind of pre-screening. (Reporting and editing by Leroy Leo, Pooja Deai, and Shivangi Lahiri from Bengaluru)

(source: Reuters)