Today Netherlands-based The Rompetrol Group NV (“TRG”) announced it had hired Andre Naniche as its new Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Naniche will be based at the Group’s headquarters in Amsterdam and will oversee the operational integration of the Group’s activities, which now span 12 countries from Russia to Spain. Mr. Naniche will also take a seat on the Group’s 4 person Board of Managing Directors (alongside Chairman Dinu Patriciu, Vice Chairman Phil Stephenson, and CFO Alex Bucsa).
Mr. Naniche has spent his last ten years working in the CIS for British Petroleum and Chevron in a variety of positions. His responsibilities included running BP's Downstream organization for their Sidanco Joint Venture, Downstream Integration Director for the merger of TNK-BP and the reengineering of TNK-BP's Trading organization. While at Chevron, Mr. Naniche was part of their TengizChevoil Joint Venture, working in the Marketing organization.
“We are very pleased to have recruited someone of Andre’s calibre and experience to the Group,” stated TRG Chairman Dinu Patriciu. “His 25 years of oil industry experience across different operating segments of the business and widely varied geographies qualifies him to help lead the Group as we work to become a regional leader in the refining and marketing industry.”
In related news, Group Vice Chairman Phil Stephenson will relocate to the Amsterdam headquarters and take on the additional responsibility of President of Rompetrol France SAS, the acquisition vehicle used to purchase 100% of the equity of Dyneff Group (France’s largest independent petroleum products distributor). He will continue to coordinate Group level decisions regarding strategy, large transactions and key personnel.
“I spent four good years living in Bucharest at a time where our main challenge was achieving the successful turnaround of assets acquired in public and private transactions there and in the region,” said Stephenson. “The challenge now is to build on this success throughout our area of operations.”