O&G UK Names Joint Chairmen

Oil & Gas UK, the representative organisation for the UK offshore oil and gas industry, has officially confirmed two new senior appointments to its Board.

Effective from spring 2014, Trevor Garlick, regional president North Sea at BP, and John Pearson, Group President, AMEC Europe, have been appointed the co-chairmen of the organisation, representing, respectively, the operator and contractor communities. Both Garlick and Pearson previously served on the Board as operator vice co-chairman and contractor vice co-chairman.

Malcolm Webb, Oil & Gas UK’s chief executive, commented: “Oil & Gas UK is fortunate to have these individuals as the chairmen of this Board – it is of real benefit to both our organisation and to the industry as a whole that Trevor Garlick and John Pearson are willing to take on this extra commitment for our sector.”

“The recent Wood Report demands, amongst other things, new and better collaboration, engagement and delivery between all companies right across the supply chain and between the industry and government. I look forward to working with both chairmen to that end.”

Commenting on his appointment, Trevor Garlick said: “I am delighted to take on this position at a very challenging but exciting time for the UK offshore. I look forward to working with colleagues throughout the industry to enhance safety performance, maximise recovery and sustain the competitiveness of the UK Continental Shelf.”

John Pearson added: “The UK’s offshore oil and gas industry is a vitally important business – which, as the UK’s largest industrial investor, supports the employment of some 450,000 people across the UK. We are under no illusions that the task ahead will be easy, but I look forward to working with Trevor and the rest of the Oil & Gas UK Board to promote the long term sustainable future of our industry.”

James Edens, vice president and managing director at CNR International UK Ltd, and Gordon Ballard, chairman and country manager of Schlumberger UK Limited, have now completed their two year maximum period of tenure as co-chairmen of Oil & Gas UK.

Malcolm Webb thanked Edens and Ballard for their outstanding contributions: “As operator co-chair, James Edens has been an exemplary chairman and I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of our whole sector to thank him for his dedication. We achieved many great outcomes for our industry thanks to James’ contribution and it is difficult to single out just one. However the conclusion of the arrangement regarding Decommissioning Relief Deeds is of particular note, behind which James was an inspirational force.

“Gordon Ballard, Oil & Gas UK’s second outgoing chairman, had a great influence in driving our industry’s involvement in the construction and delivery of the government’s Industrial Strategy, a feat for which he deserves the highest praise and recognition.

“I am pleased to say that both Gordon and James continue to serve on our Board for another year.”

Malcolm Webb concluded: “Oil & Gas UK remains diligent in ensuring that its Board of Directors is truly representative of the UK upstream oil and gas industry. Our organisation now represents over 450 members across the UK and as such, it is right that membership and leadership of the Board is regularly rotated to maintain the association’s influential position as the leading representative body in this sector.”