Chevron has announced a suite of leadership changes including Balaji Krishnamurthy moving from its technical center in Houston to become president of its Australian operations.
Oil and gas giant Chevron has announced a suite of leadership changes including Balaji Krishnamurthy moving from its technical center in Houston to become president of its Australian operations.
The 47-year-old takes up his new role on 1 April.
He replaces Mark Hatfield, who is retiring after 42 years with Chevron, including the last four as president Australia.
Mr Krishnamurthy has been with Chevron since 2003, with the majority of his career in international business units supporting operations in Angola, Canada, Kazakhstan and Thailand.
This included a 16-month stint as president Canada starting in 2021.
He has been vice president of Chevron’s technical center for the past 13 months, overseeing technical services, innovations and engineering standards in support of the group’s global operations.
Chevron is the operator and major owner of the giant Gorgon and Wheatstone liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects in WA’s north.
It has also been a long-term investor in the North West Shelf Venture but agreed in December last year to swap its one-sixth stake in that project for other assets, including Woodside’s 13 per cent stake in Wheatstone and 65 per cent stake in the Julimar-Brunello gas project.
Chevron’s downstream business operates the Caltex service station network.
Chevron Australia reported an after-tax profit of $US4.5 billion ($A6.8 billion) last financial year on revenue of $US12.7 billion, making it one of WA’s largest businesses.
Mr Krishnamurthy’s appointment was announced in tandem with several other more senior roles.
The group’s Oil, Products & Gas organization, led by vice chairman and executive vice president Mark Nelson, has been consolidated into two segments.
Clay Neff, currently president, International Exploration and Production, has been named president, Upstream.
This segment will aim to drive value through greater standardisation across Shale & Tight gas, Base Assets & Emerging Countries, Offshore, Eurasia and Australia.
Andy Walz will continue to lead the group’s Downstream, Midstream & Chemicals organization.
Ryder Booth, currently vice president, Mid-Continent Business Unit, will replace Mr Krishnamurthy in an expanded role as vice president, Technology, Projects & Execution.
“Our new organizational structure and leadership appointments are designed to improve our operational efficiency and position Chevron for sustained growth,” said Mike Wirth, Chevron’s chairman and chief executive officer.
