Former BP exec joins Oil Spill Response Limited as CEO

UK-headquartered international industry-funded spill-response cooperative Oil Spill Response Limited (OSRL), wholly owned by environmentally responsible oil and gas companies around the globe, has welcomed a new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), who previously worked in various executive positions at BP.

Oil Spill Response Limited, a provider of oil spill response services, announced the appointment of Vania De Stefani, who brings over 20 years of experience in the oil and gas industry with a strong background in engineering, operations and process safety, as its new CEO on Tuesday, 14 March 2023. The appointment is effective from 1 April 2023.

Astrid Sorensen, Chair of OSRL’s Board of Directors, commented: “We are delighted to have Vania join us as our new CEO. Her deep experience in the oil and gas industry, as well as her proven track record of leadership and technical expertise, will be invaluable as we continue to expand our services and support our members’ and customers’ needs.” 

De Stefani kicked off her career at Imperial College, where she led the scientific team responsible for developing fire and explosion models. Afterwards, De Stefani joined BP, where she held various executive positions and most recently served as the Vice President of Operations for Mauritania and Senegal.

In this role, De Stefani led geographically and culturally diverse teams, playing a key role in the response to the Deepwater Horizon incident in the Gulf of Mexico.

Vania De Stefani, Oil Spill Response Limited’s incoming CEO, remarked: “I am excited to join the team at OSRL and lead this organisation that plays a critical role in protecting the environment and responding to oil spills. I look forward to working with our employees, customers, and stakeholders to advance OSRL’s mission and continue to provide world-class oil spill response services.” 

De Stefani, who holds a Masters degree in Process Engineering from the University of Padua and a PhD in Thermophysics from Ecole Nationale Superieure de Mines de Paris, led operational crises in other regions, including Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Oil Spill Response Limited believes that De Stefani’s technical expertise and leadership skills make her “an excellent fit” for OSRL. 

Robert Limb, outgoing CEO of Oil Spill Response Limited, stated: “I am thrilled to welcome Vania as our new CEO and look forward to working closely with her to ensure a smooth transition and to continue driving OSRL’s mission forward. Her extensive experience and expertise in the oil and gas industry will be invaluable as OSRL navigate the evolving landscape of oil spill response and preparedness.” 

De Stefani’s appointment comes at a time when OSRL looks to build on its strong foundation and expand its services to meet the growing demand for oil spill response and preparedness.