Shares in BHP were up 1.2% in afternoon trade in London on Friday. Photo: Michele Mossop

BHP Billiton, the world's biggest mining company, hired Deutsche Bank analyst Rob Clifford to head its investor relations team in London.

Clifford, who previously worked at ABN Amro Group in Melbourne, will replace Jonathan Price, who is moving to Singapore to be chief financial officer of the company's marketing and supply business, a spokesman for BHP said.

A spokesman for Deutsche Bank declined to comment.

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