LONDON -- BP said Iain Conn has been appointed CEO of the group's refining and marketing business effective June 1, 2007. He replaces John Manzoni, who is leaving BP after 24 years to become president and CEO of Talisman Energy Inc., a Calgary, Alberta-based independent upstream oil and gas company.
Manzoni has agreed with the board that, following a three-month handover period, he will step down as a group managing director and leave BP on Aug. 31, 2007. Conn's current responsibilities for functions and regions will be shared with other executive colleagues.[image-nocss]
In addition to his role as CEO of refining and marketing, Conn will have regional responsibility for Europe, Southern Africa and Asia Pacific.
Conn, 44, was appointed an executive director of BP in July 2004 with functional responsibility for safety and operations, technology, marketing, human resources, information technology, procurement and supply chain management. He also had regional responsibility for Europe, Africa, Middle East, Russia, Caspian and Asia Pacific.
His career with BP began in 1986 and he has had various roles in exploration and production, oil trading and at group headquarters. He has worked overseas in Italy, Colombia and the United States.
He has spent a number of years in refining and marketing, most recently between 2000-2002, when he was responsible for marketing operations in Europe and for the integration of Veba Oel into BP. In 2002, Conn was appointed CEO of BP's petrochemicals business.
Manzoni was criticized for his handling of safety management after an explosion killed 15 workers at a BP refinery in Texas in March 2005, but the company said that his departure was linked instead to the appointment of Tony Hayward as CEO earlier this month, reported the Associated Press.
BP said that Manzoni was among those considered to replace former CEO John Browne, and that he had decided to look at other opportunities after Hayward's appointment.
Meanwhile, officials at casual-dining restaurant company O'Charley's Inc. said Michael K. Ellis has joined the company as chief development officer. Ellis joins O'Charley's from BP Products North America, where he served as vice president of asset management, responsible for all aspects of development for a 3,500-unit fuel, convenience store and food operation under the BP Connect and Arco am/pm brands. He also oversaw the firm's divestment program.
Nashville, Tenn.-based O'Charley's is a multi-concept company that operates or franchises a total of 363 restaurants under three brands: O'Charley's, Ninety Nine Restaurant and Stoney River Legendary Steaks. In his new position,Ellis will source and secure sites for new restaurants, identify and implement strategies to reduce energy and maintenance costs, and manage the construction process for the company's rebranding programs.
Previously, he was senior vice president of development for Carlson Restaurants Worldwide. He also held senior development positions at other international restaurant companies, including Darden Restaurants Inc. (Olive Garden) and Burger King.
Members help make our journalism possible. Become a CSP member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.