Ellington

Former Hattiesburg resident Robert Dudley will succeed Tony Hayward as BP's new CEO, the embattled oil company announced today. Dudley, who has been directing BP's cleanup operations in response to the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, is the first American to head the British company. Hayward will step down Oct. 1, the BP board said.

"I am honored to be given the job of rebuilding BP's strengths and reputation but sad at the circumstances," Dudley said in a statement today. "I have the greatest admiration for Tony, both for the job he has done since he became CEO in 2007 and for his unremitting dedication to dealing with the Gulf of Mexico disaster."

Dudley, 54, came to BP in 1998 after its merger with Amoco. From 2003 to 2008, he served as president and CEO of BP's joint venture in Russia, TNK-BP. His departure from Russia came amid a dispute between BP, its Russian partners and the Russian government, according to the Associated Press.

Dudley will move to London when he takes over as CEO. BP America President and Chairman Lamar McKay will take Dudley's place directing Gulf cleanup efforts. Dudley is married, with two children. Born in Queens, N.Y., he grew up in Hattiesburg. He received his bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from the University of Illinois and master's degrees from Southern Methodist University and the Thunderbird School of Global Management.

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ID

158852

Comment

FWIW, Lamar McKay also has Mississippi ties what with him getting his BS degree in Petroleum Engineering from MSU.

Author

Ex

Date

2010-07-27T13:40:54-06:00