Oil Search taps Wulff as CEO Botten to retire
Angela Macdonald-SmithSenior Resources WriterUpdated Oct 1, 2019 — 5.02pm, first published at 8.36amor Subscribe to save articleIncoming Oil Search CEO Keiran Wulff has big shoes to fill and challenges in both Alaska and the Pacific when longstanding boss Peter Botten steps down next year.
Dr Wulff will take over from Mr Botten on February 25, but will have to navigate uncertainties casting a shadow over the oil and gas producer's biggest growth project in Papua New Guinea.
The firm's chief in Alaska and an experienced hand in PNG, he will be able to call on his predecessor's experience and expertise at least until August next year when Mr Botten retires.
But with a $US14 billion LNG expansion in PNG delayed after the change in government earlier this year and lingering investor uncertainty over the Pikka oil project on Alaska's North Slope, the carefully structured leadership transition is still seen as posing risk.
Keiran Wulff will replace long-standing Oil Search chief executive Peter Botten at the company. Nic Walker
"Botten is a legend of the region's LNG industry and cannot be easily replaced after a spectacular 25-year innings," said Credit Suisse energy analyst Saul Kavonic, pointing to his key leadership role in company strategy and internal organisation as well as political and market engagement.
