BP plc is handing over some of Group CEO Bob Dudley’s duties to longtime upstream chief Lamar McKay, who has been named deputy group CEO.

McKay, a 35-year BP veteran, has run exploration, development and the oil and gas production businesses since 2013. He has been chairman and president of BP America since 2009.

In the newly created position, McKay would assume “some duties” currently borne by Dudley. Responsibilities are to include strategy and long-term planning, safety and operational risk, technology, and corporate governance — including ethics and compliance. BP America also would continue to report to McKay. Current upstream COO Bernard Looney has been tapped to take over the upstream arm.

“These changes simplify, focus and better align accountabilities within our experienced and versatile senior team,” Dudley said. “In particular. Lamar’s new role will allow us to further concentrate our attention on BP’s highest priorities through this challenging time for our whole industry.”

After beginning his career with Amoco in 1980, McKay held a range of technical and leadership roles before working on the BP-Amoco merger 1998-2000. He moved to leadership roles in the UK North Sea and head office and then in 2003 became group vice president, Russia and Kazakhstan. He served on the board of TNK-BP from 2004-2007. After further senior executive roles in the United States and Russia, McKay was appointed chairman and president of BP America, BP’s chief representative in the US, in 2009.

The appointments “headline a reorganization of BP’s executive team that includes other adjustments which will follow the retirement of Katrina Landis, executive vice president of corporate business activities, who leaves the company on May 1 following a career of 24 years with BP,” management said. Landis’ current responsibilities will be assigned to other members of the team.

BP is scheduled to report 4Q2015 results on Tuesday.