Lamar McKay, a veteran of U.S. oil company Amoco, as been appointed chairman and president of BP America, succeeding Robert A. (Bob) Malone who has elected to retire after 34 years with the company. McKay, a member of the BP plc executive management team, has led the company’s Special Projects Team since early 2008. In that capacity, he played a major role in establishing a new governance model for TNK-BP, BP’s Russian joint venture. Prior to that assignment, he served as executive vice president and COO for BP America and brings deep knowledge of BP’s U.S. operations to his new position, the company announcement said. McKay joined Amoco Production Co. as a petroleum engineer in 1980 and later served in a variety of operating and commercial roles. During his career he has led upstream production businesses in the Arkoma Basin, the Gulf of Mexico and the North Sea. After working on the BP-Amoco merger, he led BP’s worldwide exploration and production strategy efforts followed by a posting as chief of staff for the company’s global exploration and production business. Prior to his first assignment with BP America, he served as group vice president for BP’s Russia and Kazakhstan operations.

The Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) this year welcomed Sandra Kennedy, Paul Newman and Bob Stump to its five-member board. All previously held elected offices, and they join commissioners Kris Mayes, the new ACC chair, and Gary Pierce. Kennedy, a former Arizona legislator, is the ACC’s first African-American elected to the commission. Newman, an attorney, moved to Arizona from California, and he holds degrees from the University of Maryland and University of Southern California, as well as a law degree from California Western School of Law. Stump, previously a reporter and editor in Washington, DC, was elected to the Arizona state legislature in 2002 and served until last year. Stump holds degrees from Harvard University and the University of California at Berkeley.

©Copyright 2009Intelligence Press Inc. All rights reserved. The preceding news reportmay not be republished or redistributed, in whole or in part, in anyform, without prior written consent of Intelligence Press, Inc.