The top 5 most significant leadership changes in the oil and gas industry in 2014

1. The Top 5 Most SignificantThe Top 5 Most Significant
Leadership ChangesLeadership Changes
in the O&G Industry in 2014in the O&G Industry in 2014

2. In 2014 we witnessed some of the most controversial,
surprising – and tragic – leadership changes to the
energy industry in years.
Europe in particular witnessed some seismic shifts,
further highlighting the lack of veteran heavyweights
now in circulation among the continent’s leading energy
players.
In this slideshow, we highlight five international leaders
who have come and gone, and briefly examine the
effects these changes could have on their respective
companies and on the wider energy community as a
whole.

3. Paolo Scaroni, former Chief Executive of ENIPaolo Scaroni, former Chief Executive of ENI
One of the most recognisable veterans of the
international energy industry, Scaroni was
ousted as chief executive in June of 2014
during sweeping reforms pushed by Matteo
Renzi, the new Italian prime minister. He was
replaced by Claudio Descalzi, who had run
the company’s exploration and production
operations.
Scaroni’s exit was seen by some as an
attempt by the new government to clean up
key state-controlled industries in Italy, after
Scaroni was sentenced in March 2014 to
three years in prison for environmental
crimes at an Enel-owned (part of ENI),
power station. He denies any wrongdoing
and is presently free pending the outcome of
his appeal. At present, he holds the position
of Deputy Chairman at Rothschild.

4. Helge Lund, new Chief Executive of BG GroupHelge Lund, new Chief Executive of BG Group
Lund is one of the most recognisable faces in
the international energy industry, having led
state-owned Norwegian company Statoil for
more than 10 years in a stellar rise to the top,
until his move to BG Group was announced in
October last year – filling a leadership void left
by the departing Chris Finlayson, that had
dragged on for six months.
Lund’s sparkling reputation and relative youth
saw him secure an unprecedented pay package
from BG Group worth up to £25 million – a
package that was later scuppered by threats of
shareholder revolt for breaching the company’s
remuneration policy. High hopes are now
pinned on Lund’s shoulders and many keenly
anticipate he can take BG Group into exciting
new prospects of exploration & production
opportunity.

5. Christophe de Margerie, former CEO of TotalChristophe de Margerie, former CEO of Total
One of the most tragic moments of 2014,
the untimely death of the charismatic and
incredibly well-connected French industry
chief in a Moscow air crash left Total reeling,
and an entire industry in shock. His
replacement, Patrick Pouyanne (aged 51 –
the same age as Helge Lund), was seen as
a natural successor but not as early by 2014
and certainly not under such momentous
and forced circumstances.
Pouyanne will now be under intense
pressure to keep costs down and then
revive the stuttering fortunes of the
supergiant oil producer, who has been
particularly affected by economic sanctions
placed on Russia – where Total has many
huge investment interests and projects
under development.

6. Jiang Jiemin, former Chairman of CNPCJiang Jiemin, former Chairman of CNPC
The scandalous and ongoing case against a
dozen CNPC senior executives came to a head
in March last year with the arrest of Mr Jiang
and the removal of him from his position as
chief of one of the world’s largest and most
important oil companies. His initial fall from
grace came in September 2013 when
allegations of corruption and ‘cliques’ for
preferred executives came to light, but his final
humiliation came with his expulsion from the
Communist Party in June of 2014.
The investigation into corruption at CNPC was
followed by a series of arrests involving past
and present high-ranking CNPC officials,
including Wang Yongchun, vice president of
CNPC-owned PetroChina, Li Hualin, the former
CNPC general manager, and Wang Daofu,
PetroChina's former chief geologist.

7. Jean-Francois Cirelli, former Deputy CEO of GDF SUEZJean-Francois Cirelli, former Deputy CEO of GDF SUEZ
The sudden and surprising announcement
that Isabelle Kochar – one of the new
young female superstars of French
industry – would be inheriting the Chief
Executive’s mantle from the soon-to-be-
retiring Gérard Mestrallet, was enough for
Cirelli to quit the global utility giant with
immediate effect in November 2014.
Kochar, just 48 years old and only in a
board-level role as Chief Financial Officer
at GDF since 2010, is now active in Cirelli’s
former position and will take on the top
job in early 2016, when age will force the
retirement of Mestrallet from the
incumbency.

8. Who might be the next industry leaderWho might be the next industry leader
to be replaced – or leave, and why?to be replaced – or leave, and why?
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