Baker Hughes president and CEO takes chairman role

Baker Hughes, a GE company, has elected BHGE president and chief executive officer (CEO) Lorenzo Simonelli as the chairman of the BHGE board, effective October 2.

BHGE said on Monday that Simonelli would continue in his president and CEO role, which he has held since the closing of the merger of Baker Hughes and GE’s Oil and Gas business on July 3, 2017.

Simonelli replaces former GE chairman and CEO Jeff Immelt, who retired from the BHGE board of directors effective October 2.

The newly elected chairman, Simonelli, said: “I am honored to take on the added role of chairman and further help BHGE win in the market and deliver for our shareholders.

“We have a differentiated full stream portfolio, a great team, and valued customers. We are making the right moves to compete in the down cycle and position the company for long-term value creation. I look forward to serving the board, the company, and shareholders.”

In addition to Immelt’s departure, BHGE board member Larry Nichols has also announced his decision to resign from the board.

“Nichols served as a member of the legacy Baker Hughes Inc. board, and for the past 16 years provided valuker able counsel and board leadership,” the company said.

With these two resignations, BHGE has reduced the size of its board to nine members and has named current GE-designee BHGE board member W. Geoffrey Beattie as the new lead director.

GE owns approximately 62.5% of BHGE and retains five designated seats on the BHGE board.

“BHGE is a valued and strategic energy business, and an important part of the GE portfolio,” GE chairman and CEO John Flannery said. “With Lorenzo’s new chairmanship, the strong GE representation and the experience of the legacy Baker Hughes Inc. board members, the board leadership is in good hands.”