Keiran Wulff to Succeed Peter Botten at Oil Search

Australia-listed Oil Search October 1 said its managing director Peter Botten will retire on August 25, 2020, and will be succeeded by Keiran Wulff, who is currently company’s executive vice president, Alaska and president of Oil Search Alaska. Botten joined Oil Search in 1992 and has been the company’s managing director for 25 years.

Wulff was appointed CEO designate on September 30, 2019, and will retain his Alaskan responsibilities until mid-December 2019, to manage the company’s entry into front-end engineering and design for the Pikka Unit development, Oil Search said. He will start his role as managing director and join the Oil Search board on February 25 2020. Bruce Dingeman, who is currently COO of the Alaska Business Unit, will take over Wulff’s role as president Alaska.

“The board is extremely appreciative of Peter’s long and dedicated service to Oil Search over the past 26 years. Under his leadership, Oil Search has grown from a small exploration and production company to a regionally significant oil, gas and LNG producer and exporter. Peter is recognised as one of the world’s most successful corporate executives, as well as a leader in environmental, social governance and corporate social responsibility," Oil Search chairman Rick Lee said in a statement.

Botten will remain managing director of the company until 25 February 2020 and will continue to be employed by Oil Search until August 25 2020, focusing primarily on the LNG expansion projects, the company said. Oil Search is a partner in two Papua New Guinea LNG exports projects.

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 New Guinea Business Council Executive Committee.