Oil & Gas UK adds three board members as sector pushes to meet net-zero target

Oil & Gas UK, a representative body for the UK oil and gas industry, has appointed three major business leaders to its board as the sector sharpens its focus on the industry’s recovery and meeting net-zero targets as it looks ahead to the new year.

Oil & Gas UK said in a statement on Tuesday that it has appointed Jose Luis Muñoz, Andy Hessell, and Mikki Corcoran to its board.

Jose Luis Muñoz is CEO of Repsol Sinopec Resources UK.

Muñoz joined Repsol in 2005 as part of the Strategy and Corporate Development team and was instrumental in the acquisition of the global operations of the former Talisman Energy business.

He then went on to drive the post-merger integration of the ex-Talisman operations, ensuring a smooth transition.

Since 2017 and prior to his appointment as CEO, José Luis was Repsol representative within the Executive Committee of Repsol Sinopec Resources UK.

Andy Hessell has more than 30 years’ experience in the UK energy industry specialising in commercial, strategy and business development roles in the UK and overseas. Over the past five years, as Managing Director, Hessell has been successfully growing Kellas Midstream, an innovative independent company that owns and manages critical North Sea infrastructure.

Prior to joining Kellas, Hessell had a 26-year long career with BP in a variety of leadership positions including North Sea region Chief Financial Officer and Vice President Commercial Operations, North Sea & Angola.

Also joining the board of Oil & Gas UK is Mikki Corcoran, Managing Director of Schlumberger Europe. Prior to this role, she worked in North America Offshore as General Manager Drilling, and before that, as Global Account Director for Schlumberger.

During her 20-year career in the Oil & Gas industry with Schlumberger, Corcoran has held a variety of management positions, including HR, Operations, Sales & Commercial, and Supply Chain, in Norway, United States, Asia and Europe.

Deirdre Michie, Oil & Gas UK’s chief executive, commented: “The diverse experience and knowledge that José, Mikki and Andy bring to the OGUK Board will be a great asset as our industry continues to tackle a challenging landscape of low commodity prices and the coronavirus pandemic, while at the same time seeking to support the UK’s cleaner climate ambitions as we look to 2021 and the challenges and opportunities it will bring.

“This diversity of perspectives from across the industry is critical as we work to deliver Roadmap 2035, finding solutions for low carbon oil and gas production while doing everything we can to revive our world-class but fragile supply chain and protect the skills of our people for the future”.

The UK government has recently said it will end direct support for the fossil fuels energy sector overseas as it works to support the sector’s transition to low-carbon energy in a push to curb the effects of climate change. However, the decision has faced criticism from the African oil and gas sector.

Furthermore, a revised Strategy from the UK’s petroleum regulator Oil & Gas Authority (OGA), featuring a range of new net-zero obligations for the UK oil and gas industry, has recently submitted for laying before the UK Parliament.

The revised strategy reflects the ongoing global energy transition.