Oil Search names new managing director

The Papua New Guinea-focused oil and gas producer and PNG LNG stakeholder, Oil Search named its new managing director following Peter Botten’s decision to retire from the company on August 25. 

The company said that Botten will be succeeded as managing director by Keiran Wulff on February 25, when Botten steps down from the company board.

Wulff is currently Oil Search’s executive vice president, Alaska and president of Oil Search Alaska. He worked at Oil Search from 1993 to 2008, holding several senior technical, operational and executive roles, and re-joined the company in 2015.

To ensure a smooth transition of responsibilities from Botten to Wulff, Wulff was appointed CEO designate on September 30 2019. He will retain his Alaskan responsibilities until mid-December 2019, to manage the company’s entry into front-end engineering and design (FEED) for the Pikka Unit development, while also engaging progressively with all stakeholders and being involved in budget and planning matters for 2020 and beyond.

He will commence his role as managing director and join the Oil Search board on February 25, 2020.

Bruce Dingeman, who is currently chief operating officer of the Alaska business unit, will take over Wulff’s role as president Alaska.

Botten will remain managing director of the company until February 25, 2020, and will continue to be employed by OilSearch until August 25, 2020, focusing primarily on the LNG expansion project as the co-venturers move towards a final investment decision (FID), as well as assisting in other matters as required.

Longer-term, Botten will continue his association with Oil Search and PNG through his roles as chairman of the Oil Search Foundation and the Hela Provincial Health Authority and as a member of the Australia Papua NewGuinea Business Council Executive Committee.