Wednesday 8 December 1999

UKOOA Restructures Executive Team For 2000

The UK Offshore Operators Association (UKOOA) has strengthened its executive officer management team for 2000 to reflect the upstream oil and gas industrys priorities for the coming year and UKOOAs closer links with PILOT, the body which will now steer the initiatives born out of the Oil and Gas Industry Task Force.

An executive team of ten double the number in previous years was elected today (8 December 1999) by UKOOA Council for 2000. Francis Gugen, Managing Director of Amerada Hess Ltd, is taking over from Chevrons Bob Connon as UKOOAs President.

Each team member is either nominated to serve as an operator representative on PILOT and on the related Industry Leadership Team (ILT) that supports PILOT, or has senior responsibility in the ILT and or in one or more of UKOOAs main committees, driving key issues such as safety, decommissioning, fiscal affairs, and energy and environment policy.

Five industry figures have been nominated by the Association to represent its interests on PILOT and Government will be announcing membership in due course.

UKOOAs Executive Officers for 2000 are:

• President:Francis Gugen, Managing Director, Amerada Hess Ltd
• Vice President: David Smith, President, Marathon Oil UK Ltd
• Vice President and Honorary Treasurer:Alan Jones, Regional President Scotland, BP Amoco Exploration
• Executive Officers:Paul Blakeley, General Manager, Talisman Oil (UK) Ltd
• Malcolm Brinded,Managing Director, Shell UK Exploration and Production
• Ian Craig, General Manager, Enterprise Oil plc
• Mike Fry, Production Director, Esso Exploration and Production UK Ltd
• Jo Groeger, Managing Director, Veba Oil and Gas UK Ltd
• John McDonald, Managing Director, Texaco North Sea UK Company
• George Watkins, Chairman and Managing Director, Conoco (UK) Ltd

UKOOAs new President, Francis Gugen, said, I am very honoured to be appointed President of UKOOA particularly at a time when the industry faces significant challenges. Despite the recent increase in oil prices, the maturity of the North Sea means that major change is still needed if the UKCS is to continue to be the success story it has been for the last 30 years.

The expanded executive is committed to facing these challenges and to finding solutions for the 21st Century.

James May, Director General, added, I am very pleased that Council have agreed to strengthen our executive officer team. The challenges facing the UK industry are well understood and the strengthened team will allow us to make our full contribution to PILOT, the success of which is crucial to the industrys future.

For more information, please call 020 7802 2400.