World's Energy

February 18, 2009 - Downstream Online - The board of BP p.l.c. on Wednesday announced that it has appointed Robert Dudley as a director with effect from April 6, 2009. As a managing director of the BP Group he will assume responsibility for broad oversight of the company's activities in the Americas and Asia. Dudley was most recently president and chief executive officer of TNK-BP, Russia's third largest oil and gas company. Prior to taking up the post in 2003, he had worked extensively in commercial, operating and corporate roles across the international oil and gas industry for BP and, previously, Amoco. Commenting on the appointment, BP chairman Peter Sutherland said: "I am pleased to welcome Bob Dudley to the board and back to BP. He is a talented executive, experienced in all aspects of our business, who helped build TNK-BP into one of Russia's premier companies." Tony Hayward, BP group chief executive, said: "All of us in BP will benefit from Bob's extensive experience. During his time at TNK-BP he improved the company's governance and its safety and environmental performance while greatly increasing reserves and production." Dudley and his wife of 29 years, Mary, have two children and will reside in London. He has a BA in chemical engineering from the University of Illinois. He received his MIM from the Thunderbird School of Global Management and also holds an MBA from Southern Methodist University.