Oil and gas firm Nexen last night announced a change at the top for its UK North Sea arm, with Ray Riddoch taking over from Archie Kennedy as managing director on July 1.
Mr Riddoch, currently vice-president, UK operations, has been with the Canada-based and Chinese-owned company since 2011.
Nexen said he had already played a key role in “driving superior performance and industry-leading results”, having held a variety of leadership roles in the firm’s production, drilling and completions, subsea, planning, process safety management and health, safety, environment and social responsibility teams.
Mr Kennedy, who “retired” six years ago as managing director of ConocoPhillips (UK), has been with Nexen’s Aberdeen-based North Sea business since 2012.
He has helped deliver some of its largest projects, including the recent Golden Eagle development.#
Nexen chief executive Fang Zhi said: “Archie has provided immeasurable success to Nexen’s UK operations and we wish him the best.
“Our leadership team has worked to develop a strong succession plan that ensures safe and reliable operations. Ray’s depth of knowledge and talented skill set as a leader makes him an ideal successor for this role.”
Nexen is the operator of the North Sea’s giant Buzzard field. China National Offshore Oil Corporation’s £9.6billion acquisition of the firm in 2013 was China’s biggest foreign corporate takeover.
