Total Oil Names New CEO

Total Oil has named Patrick Pouyanne, its current head of refining and chemicals, as the new Chief Executive Officer to replace former chief executive Christophe de Margerie who died on Monday, October 20.

De Margerie lost his life in a plane crash after his corporate jet collided with a snow plough in a Moscow airport.

The oil giant has also appointed Thierry Desmarest as its new chairman at an emergency meeting of its board of directors, AFP reports.

Desmarest, was CEO and chairman of the group from 1995 to 2007 before handing over to the late De Margerie and will also eventually be expected to “clear the way for Pouyanne to become both chief executive and chairman."

A criminal probe has been opened into De Margerie’s death after it was alleged that the driver of the snow plough was drunk at the time of the accident.