Chilean state copper producer Codelco’s board unanimously decided to name Diego Hernández as its new CEO, the company said in a release Tuesday afternoon.

Hernández, currently president of BHP Billiton’s (NYSE: BHP) base metals division, will succeed José Pablo Arellano at the world’s largest copper producer on May 19.

Hernández was previously non-ferrous base metals CEO at Brazil’s Vale (NYSE: VALE) and CEO of the Doña Inés de Collahuasi copper mine in Chile. He also occupied executive positions at Anglo American Chile and Rio Tinto Brazil.

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