Sauquet Returns as Total Gas Chief
Philippe Sauquet, who was Total’s president Gas & Power from mid-2012 until the reshuffle after former CEO Christophe de Margerie’s death in October 2014, is back in charge of Gas, Power and now also Renewables. He also becomes executive vice president for Strategy & Innovation across the group, retains his place on the group’s management committee from 2011 and now also joins Total’s executive committee (its supervisory board).
Total announced in April that it was refreshing its organisation by recreating a strong Gas and Power division within its hierarchy, starting in September. In May, it also gave climate protection, including the electrification of Africa, a new enhanced role within its group strategy.
Sauquet’s role as president, Refining & Chemicals – which he has held since October 2014 and which prior to him was held by current CEO Patrick Pouyanne – will go to Bernard Pinatel who left Total when the subsidiary that he headed, Bostik, was sold to French chemicals group Arkema. Pinatel now rejoins Total with a seat on the management board.
Pouyanne thanked Sauquet for having “managed Refining & Chemicals with determination since 2014."
The new positions are with effect from September 1, 2016. Arnaud Breuillac and Patrick de la Chevardiere retain their posts as upstream chief and CFO respectively.
Momar Nguer was named Total’s president, Marketing & Services in March – a chiefly downstream oil role but one that could may boost Total’s branding worldwide, especially in Africa. When Total bought two product terminals and 107 filling stations in east Africa in May, Nguer said this was “in line with Total's growth strategy for the distribution of petroleum products and services in Africa.” It showed how Total views the deal as complementing its Uganda upstream position and its regional gas & power ambitions, whereas Shell and Chevron have been divesting downstream interests in Africa.
Effective September 1, 2016, Total’s executive committee will comprise:
- Patrick Pouyanne, chairman and CEO
- Arnaud Breuillac, president, Exploration & Production
- Patrick de La Chevardière, CFO
- Momar Nguer, president, Marketing & Services
- Bernard Pinatel, president, Refining & Chemicals
- Namita Shah, executive vice president, People & Social Responsibility (also a new appointment)
- Philippe Sauquet, president, Gas, Renewables & Power and executive vice president, Strategy & Innovation (photo below).
One question raised by the appointments is the future role for Laurent Vivier, who was appointed president of Gas at Total in June 2015 but without a seat on the management committee. Previously in 2014-15 he was Total's vice president for strategy and market analysis within Gas & Power at Total. It's possible that Vivier, still in his mid-40s, (below) may take a more proactive role developing the LNG supply & trading business at Total, reporting to Sauquet.
Mark Smedley | www.naturalgaseurope.com