Friday 1 August 2003

UKOOA Appoints New Economics and Commercial Director

The UK Offshore Operators Association (UKOOA) is delighted to announce that it has appointed Mike Tholen, as Economics and Commercial Director.

Mike will lead on economic and commercial issues, including fiscal and gas policy, for the oil and gas industry trade body from his arrival in the early autumn and will be based in London. He was formerly Economics and Planning Manager in the Shell Expro Gas Directorate.

He is 45 years of age and has a wealth of experience born of 22 years with GEC and Shell. Mike is a graduate of Shells Advanced Business Management Programme and has held a variety of posts ranging from Public Affairs to Offshore Infrastructure Management.

Mike Tholen said: I am absolutely delighted to have been appointed to this post. UKOOA is assembling a young but experienced management team, designed to meet the increasingly demanding needs of the industry as we tackle the challenges of maturity and competitiveness.

We owe a great deal of debt to the work done over the past few years and I am delighted to have the opportunity to build upon it.

UKOOA has recently undergone a major reorganisation in recognition of the rapid changes now taking place in the industry. The association has re-positioned itself in preparation for the next phase of the North Seas life where new technological and commercial approaches will increasingly be used to explore for and develop the UKs remaining oil and gas reserves.

Steve Harris, Acting Director General, added, For the second time in the last month I am able to announce the recruitment of an experienced, dynamic professional to UKOOA. I am delighted to be able to prove once again that the positions that we are offering in the new organisation are attracting people of the highest quality from our industry. It demonstrates clearly that people see the changes we are making as relevant and exciting.

Fiscal and gas issues are at the very heart of the political agenda and I am confident that Mike will give us the leadership that we require.

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Note to Editors

The UK Offshore Operators Association (UKOOA) is the representative organisation for companies licensed by the British Government to explore for and produce hydrocarbons in UK waters. It has 29 members.

For more information, please call 020 7802 2400.