The Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) has confirmed its chief executive will step down at the end of the year.
Andy Samuel will leave the industry regulator in December after eight “highly successful” years in charge.
His departure “has been long agreed”, the OGA said.
Work is now ongoing to ensure a “smooth transition”, and the regulator intends to appoint a successor in the summer.
That will allow time for a period of handover with Mr Samuel.
Leadership advisory firm Russell Reynolds has been appointed to support the OGA in the appointment – the search process is due to commence shortly.
According to the company’s website, the closing date for applications for a new CEO is March 16.
Andy Samuel
Mr Samuel became the OGA’s first CEO in 2015 shortly after the regulator was set up following the Wood Review.
He has also serves on the boards of the Net Zero Technology Centre and is co-chairman of Maggie’s Aberdeen charity fundraising board.
During a 20-year career with BG Group, which was acquired by Shell in 2015, Mr Samuel held a number of international leadership positions.
He was managing director of Europe exploration and production and in the US he led a joint venture to develop the Marcellus shale play.
A Cambridge University graduate, he has also worked in a number of key roles in Egypt and the UK previously as exploration manager.
‘A very progressive leader’
Trade body OGUK has paid tribute to Mr Samuel, praising the way he embraced “collaborative ways of working”.
Deirdre Michie, OGUK chief executive, said: “Andy Samuel has played a leading role in supporting and challenging the sector as it has had to navigate some difficult issues from global downturns to driving forward the energy transition.
“His leadership has helped to ensure the balance that we need to sustain security of energy supply for as long as the UK uses oil and gas while progressing the net zero agenda that is key to the UK meeting its net zero targets.
“Andy is a very progressive leader who embraces positive and collaborative ways of working across the sector that have helped unlock some significant issues during his time at the helm of OGA.
“We wish him all the best as he moves on at the end of the year but look forward to continuing to work with him in the meantime!”
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