Canadian Natural reshuffles management roles

Oil and gas company Canadian Natural Resources (CNR) has made several management changes and opened two new COO positions.

CNR said on Tuesday that, as part of these management changes, president Steve Laut would assume the role of executive vice chairman while Tim McKay, the current COO, would be promoted to president.

Both changes would take place on CNR’s 2017 year-end board meeting on February 28, 2018.

Tim McKay joined CNR in 1990 and as chief operating officer played an integral role in delivering performance in all of the company’s operations.

As executive vice chairman Steve Laut will remain on the company’s Management Committee and will support the continued transition in its asset base, provide strategic input on the company’s overall corporate direction, as well as focus on oversight of major corporate projects.

New COO positions

CNR added that it grew ‘significantly’ over the course of 2017 and, as a result, would be creating two chief operating officer positions within the company on January 1, 2018. These COOs will oversee the company’s E&P operations and oil sands operations.

The positions will be filled by Darren Fichter, the executive VP of Canadian conventional and Scott Stauth, the executive VP of field operations. The former will become the COO of E&P while the latter will take the position of COO of oil sands.

Fichter has been with Canadian Natural for over 21 years in increasingly responsible management roles in production, exploitation, and operations. The other soon-to-be-COO, Stauth, has been with CNR for over 20 years in roles across all field operations in Canada.

Murray Edwards, executive chairman of CNR, said: “Tim has been a significant contributor to Canadian Natural’s top-tier performance and I am very confident Tim will make even greater contributions as president. Whereas Steve Laut, as executive vice chairman will continue to provide strategic oversight and guidance on our operations.”

Regarding his appointment, Laut said: “Tim McKay has outstanding leadership, technical and operational skills and is an excellent role model for Canadian Natural’s culture, one of our key competitive advantages. I am very confident in Tim’s abilities, and I look forward to working with Tim as Canadian Natural continues to strengthen and evolve.”