Ukraine Naftogaz Names Commercial Boss

Ukraine state gas supplier Naftogaz has appointed Willem Coppoolse to head its commercial division, it said June 24. The company has restructured, creating into two divisions, the other being upstream. Its head was announced last month. 

Coppoolse will be in charge of retail trade and trading activity and setting up effective channels for selling gas.

He has over 25 years’ experience of eastern European gas markets at Engie and its earlier incarnations starting with Gaz de France and he also played an advisory role during the spin-off of the Ukrainian transit pipeline operator, as a Gasunie employee.

Naftogaz said the Dutchman had a wealth of experience of the competitive markets, and now when Ukraine completes its reforms and opens its gas market up, this experience will be vital. "We need the best practice and standards in our work with clients. I hope that Willem will help Naftogaz implement its own form of a revolution in the energy services sector,” said Naftogaz CEO Andrei Kobolev.

The board has also appointed Coppoolse as general director of the gas supply company Naftogaz Trading. The commercial division will focus on gas sales to end users after the the termination of the public service obligation from the start of next month. Former state monopoly Gaz de France also had public service obligations but defended them more keenly than Naftogaz, for whom they represent a loss-making operation.