Current group treasurer and head of Europe Vandita Pant has been appointed as chief commercial officer from July 1.

She replaces Arnoud Balhuizen, who will return to the Netherlands after 25 years with the company.

Transformation director Jonathan Price has been promoted to chief transformation officer from tomorrow.

Laura Tyler will continue in her current role as Olympic Dam asset president, based in Adelaide, but will also re-join the executive leadership team as chief geoscientist.

Geraldine Slattery, a 25-year BHP veteran, will lead the company's petroleum business from March 18 after most recently being conventional asset president.

Current president Steve Pastor has decided to leave BHP following the recent sale of the company's US onshore assets.

BHP CEO Andrew Mackenzie said the management changes were an important step as the company planned for the future.

"The elevation of geoscience and transformation to the executive leadership team demonstrates the determination we have to advance the best science, technology and people to make our operations safer and more productive," he said.

"I thank Arnoud and Steve for their significant contribution to BHP. Their expertise, integrity and commitment will leave a strong legacy in their respective areas of the business and across the company more broadly."

Five of BHP's 11-member executive leadership team are now women.

BHP is aiming to achieve gender balance by 2025.