Origin Energy snatches Woodside CFO

Australian energy firm Origin Energy has appointed Woodside Energy’s Lawrie Tremaine as the company’s new Chief Financial Officer.

Origin said on Tuesday that Tremaine would become a member of the executive leadership team lead by chief executive officer Frank Calabria.

Tremaine joins Origin from Woodside Energy where he is the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Tremaine joined Woodside in 2006 from Alcoa where he held senior financial roles in Australia and across the Asia-Pacific region during a 17-year career.

Origin CEO Frank Calabria said: “Lawrie brings extensive finance and leadership experience in resources particularly oil and gas. His appointment is another important step forward in achieving our immediate goal of reducing debt and improving returns so that we can position Origin for growth in a rapidly changing energy market while delivering on the potential of our investment in Australia Pacific LNG.”

Tremaine’s 30 years of experience in financial management includes taxation, strategy and planning, business development, commercial contracting, and procurement. He will assume his role at Origin following completion of his notice period at Woodside and will be based in Sydney.

Origin is currently working on divesting its upstream business to focus on the Energy Markets and Integrated gas businesses. The company said in December last year that it would load off its conventional upstream business and form a new company which would include Origin’s interests in the Otway Gas Project, BassGas Project, Kupe Gas Project, and the Perth, Cooper, Bonaparte, and Canterbury basins. Origin will retain its interests in Australia Pacific LNG, Ironbark, and the Browse and Beetaloo basins.