One of the top bosses at BG Group has announced he is to quit.
Martin Houston – the firm’s chief operating officer and executive director – has stepped down from the board with immediate effect, and will retire on December 31.
Sami Iskander, the current executive vice-president operations will now take over the role of chief operating officer, with immediate effect, reporting to Chris Finlayson.
Matt Schatzman, executive vice-president in global energy marketing and shipping, will now also report directly to Mr Finlayson.
Mr Houston joined the predecessor company to BG Group, British Gas Corporation, in 1983 as a petroleum geologist. A spokesman for the firm said yesterday: “During his time with BG Group he gained extensive international experience from a wide variety of technical, commercial and management roles, and played a leading role in developing the group’s unique LNG business model.”
He became BG Group executive vice-president in 2000.
In the past year, he has been heavily involved with QGC in Australia, in developing the long-term LNG growth options for BG Group.
BG Group chairman Andrew Gould said: “The board and I would like to sincerely thank Martin for his outstanding contribution to BG Group, and its predecessor companies, over the last 30 years.
“He was one of the principal architects of the Group’s LNG and shipping business during the formative years. We have benefited greatly from Martin’s support and the value that he has added to the group.”
Prior to his retirement from the group, Mr Houston will continue to assist QGC with the delivery of Phase 1 of the QCLNG project in Australia, where it is on track for first LNG in 2014.
Chief executive Chris Finlayson added: “I would like to add my personal thanks to Martin for his tremendous support during my first year in office.
“I would also like to congratulate Sami on his appointment and look forward to working closely with both Sami and Matt over the coming years.”