Bank of America Merrill Lynch has chosen former BHP Billiton chairman Don Argus to oversee a new advisory board for its Australian operations. According to a company memo Argus will take a chairman seat at the new Australia Advisory Board, working with the head of the bank's Australian operations Craig Drummond on the strategic and tactical direction of the local business.

Argus served as BHP Billiton's chairman from 1999 until earlier this year. His experience also includes working as a chief executive of National Australia Bank. At Band of America Merrill Lynch he will provide advice and guidance to the company’s senior management staff worldwide.

He will be joined on the advisory board by BHP Billiton director David Crawford, Australian economist Ian Harper and state-backed Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Chief Executive Megan Clark.