South32 chief executive Graham Kerr says he is confident the diversified mining company will be ready to operate as an independent entity later this month, after BHP Billiton shareholders strongly endorsed the demerger.
The tougher business climate has prompted some WA companies to cut executive salaries, but most have held the line and some have even awarded pay rises.
BHP Billiton's new boss Andrew Mackenzie has shaken up the global miner's leadership group, with petroleum boss Michael Yeager leaving the company but Perth-based iron ore president Jimmy Wilson an
