MOVES-Merrill Australia's research chief to join BHP

MELBOURNE, Jan 13 (Reuters) - Merrill Lynch Australia's head of equities research, Vicky Binns, is leaving the investment bank to join global miner BHP Billiton (BHP.AX) (BLT.L), BHP spokeswoman Samantha Evans said on Tuesday.

Binns, considered one of Australia's top resources-company analysts, leaves the broking industry after 16 years to head BHP's global team of commodity analysts. She will be based in Singapore from March 30. (Reporting by Sonali Paul, Editing by Mark Bendeich)