Pavilion Poaches New CEO (Update from Gazprom)

see final paragraph for update from Gazprom's GM&T

Singapore-based Pavilion Energy announced December 5 that Frederic Barnaud will succeed Seah Moon Ming as CEO of both Pavilion Energy and its subsidiary, Pavilion Gas, on February 1, 2018.

Barnaud, a French national, is currently executive director of London-based Gazprom Marketing & Trading (GM&T) and head of the latter's global LNG, oil and shipping business. Prior to joining GM&T in mid-2008, he worked for Total since 1990 in oil trading, refining, and most recently as head of its LNG portfolio and shipping business. He graduated from the Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussees in Paris.

Seah said: “I am especially grateful for the support the Board has extended to me as well as the hard work of a team of colleagues. Their support and hard work had enabled me to build Pavilion Energy from scratch to where it is today. I know they will give Frederic the same level of support to bring the Group to the next phase of its growth. We are at the centre of a growing LNG market, underpinned by China, India and Southeast Asia. I am confident that the group will continue to do well."

Singapore-based Pavilion Energy started operations in 2013 and since then staked out positions across the global LNG value chain: it acquired a 20% interest in Shell-operated Tanzanian deepwater gas reserves; secured gas offtake from US projects and portfolio suppliers; established joint ownership in three LNG carriers and secured the Singapore LNG importer licence and also the use of the Singapore LNG terminal’s third storage tank for trading activities. 

Pavilion Energy chairman Hassan Marican, who headed Malaysian state Petronas from 1995 to 2010 and is now a senior advisor to Singapore sovereign wealth fund Temasek , thanked Mr. Seah for the "pivotal role" he played in the creation and success of Pavilion Energy.

Update, December 6 3.30pm: GM&T provided NGW with the following statement relating to Barnaud's departure: "Following a recent corporate restructure, GM&T's LNG, Oil and Shipping divisions have been absorbed into the more streamlined departments of Trading and Origination. GM&T's executive team, in partnership with the company general managers, will be accountable for Mr Barnaud's previous responsibilities. We would like to thank Frederic for his considerable contributions to GM&T and wish him continued success for the future."

Barnaud is to head Pavilion from February 1 2018 (Photo credit: Gazprom)