Total CEO Christophe de Margerie dies in plane accident

Total’s CEO Christophe de Margerie died on Monday in a private plane crash at Vnukovo Airport in Moscow, following a collision with a snow plough. 

“Total confirms with deep regret and great sadness that Chairman and CEO Christophe de Margerie died just after 10pm (Paris time) on October 20 in a private plane crash at Vnukovo Airport in Moscow, following a collision with a snow removal machine,” Total said in a statement.

Four people were found dead at the scene of the accident, including three crew members and Christophe de Margerie.

“The thoughts of the management and employees of the Group go out to Christophe de Margerie’s wife, children and loved ones as well as to the families of the three other victims,” the statement added.

Christophe de Margerie joined Total after graduating from the École Supérieure de Commerce in Paris in 1974. He served in several positions in Total’s Finance Department and Exploration & Production division.

He became President of Total Middle East in 1995 before joining the company’s Executive Committee as the President of the Exploration & Production division in May 1999.

He then became Senior Executive Vice President of Exploration & Production of the new TotalFinaElf group in 2000.

In January 2002, he became President of the Exploration & Production division of Total. He was appointed a member of the Board of Directors by the Shareholders’ Meeting held on May 12, 2006 and became Chief Executive Officer of Total on February 14, 2007.

He was appointed Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Total on May 21, 2010.