FINDLAY, Ohio -- Marathon Oil Corp. has announced the following organizational changes within Marathon Petroleum Co. LLC, the company's wholly owned downstream (refining, marketing and transportation) subsidiary. All of the changes are effective June 1, 2010. Jerry C. Welch, senior vice president of refining, will retire after 34 years of service, and he will be succeeded by Rich Bedell, currently division manager of Marathon's Garyville, La., refinery.
Mary Ellen Peters, senior vice president of transportation and logistics, will retire after 31 years of service, and she [image-nocss] will be succeeded by George P. Shaffner, currently division manager of the company's Detroit refinery.
"The entire Marathon family extends our sincere thanks to Jerry Welch and Mary Ellen Peters for their leadership, professionalism and the many contributions they have made to our company over an impressive combined total of 65 years of service," said Gary R. Heminger, Marathon executive vice president of downstream and president of Marathon Petroleum.
"Jerry and Mary Ellen have consistently demonstrated the depth of their knowledge of our industry, as well as their keen business insights, and both of them have played a significant role in enhancing the competitiveness and success of Marathon's leading downstream operations. We wish them the very best in their retirement and all of their future endeavors.
"We also congratulate Rich Bedell and George Shaffner on the appointment to their new positions. These gentlemen possess proven leadership skills, a deep understanding of our business and an ability to successfully address the complex and ever-changing challenges facing our downstream operations. While the list of their professional achievements is long and varied, most recently, Rich played an integral role in leading the team responsible for the successful 2 completion of the Garyville major expansion. Likewise, George currently holds significant responsibility for executing the projected Detroit heavy oil upgrading project. We look forward to the many contributions they both will continue to make in helping Marathon successfully manage its business in the very dynamic, global energy marketplace."
He joined Marathon in 1976 and was appointed to his current position in January 2007. In September 2001, Welch was named senior vice president of Transportation & Logistics. He assumed the position of manager, Catlettsburg (Ky.) Refining LLC in 1998. In 1994, he was named manager, Illinois Refining Division. He was appointed manager, Indiana Refining Division in 1992. Prior to this, he worked in managerial positions at Marathon's Garyville, La., and Texas City, Texas, refineries.
Bedell joined Marathon in 1979 and was appointed to his current position in 2001. Since joining the Company, he has held numerous refining departmental management positions at the Garyville, Texas City and Detroit refineries before being named Texas Refining Division manager in 1995. In 2001, he was named Illinois Refining Division manager and later that same year assumed his current position.
Peters joined Marathon in 1979 and was appointed to her current position in January 2010. Throughout her career with Marathon, she has held several management positions of increasing responsibility in the company's supply, distribution and planning and marketing organizations, including products distribution, supply analysis, products supply, operations planning, advertising and asphalt andheavy oil sales. In 1996, she was named president of Marathon Pipe Line Co., and in 1998 she was appointed senior vice president of marketing, the position she held until her most recent assignment.
Shaffner joined Marathon in 1981 and was named to his current position in October 2006. Prior to that Shaffner held a number of key engineering and managerial positions in the company's pipeline, marketing and refining operations, including serving as maintenance manager of the Detroit refinery from 1990 until 1992 when he was appointed engineering manager at the Garyville refinery. In 1994, he was named refining reliability manager, and in 2003 he was appointed division manager of the Company's St. Paul Park (Minn.) refinery where he served until his most recent position.
Also, Marathon Oil has announced that Randy K. Lohoff, vice president of corporate responsibility for Marathon Petroleum,, will retire effective June 1, 2010, following a combined 33 years of service with Marathon and Ashland Inc.
"Randy Lohoff has been a key member of Marathon's downstream leadership team since the creation of our former downstream joint venture with Ashland in 1998," said Heminger. "The substantial knowledge and experience he brought to our company then and now have helped us advance the competitiveness of our top-tier refining, marketing and transportation business segment. We thank Randy for his many contributions to the success of Marathon and wish him and his family much health and happiness in their retirement."
Lohoff joined Ashland Inc. in 1977. Ashland is the company with whom Marathon formed a U.S. downstream joint venture in 1998, and whose minority interest in the joint venture Marathon purchased in 2005. He assumed his current responsibilities with Marathon in August 2005. He served in a number of legal capacities with Ashland Inc. from 1977 until 1987 when he transferred to Ashland Petroleum Co. as director of human resources. In 1992, he was appointed vice president of human resources and safety, and in 1996 he assumed duties as vice president of human resources, safety and law administration. He was named senior vice president of human resources, health, environment and safety for the Marathon Ashland joint venture in January 1998 and served in that capacity until the appointment to his current position.
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