Former Exxon Mobil executive Tony Cudmore has been appointed president of corporate affairs at BHP Billiton.

Mr Cudmore, who was the corporate public affairs manager of oil and gas giant Exxon Mobil Corporation, will begin the new role at the mining giant on March 3.

He will be based at BHP’s headquarters in Melbourne and report to chief executive Andrew Mackenzie.

Between 2006 and 2012, Mr Cudmore was based at ExxonMobil’s head office in Dallas, Texas.

He also advised Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett and headed that state government’s media relations team during the 1990s.

Mr Cudmore takes over from Karen Wood who has been the acting head of BHP’s corporate affairs since mid-2013.