After the tragic death of Christophe de Margerie, managing director and president, Total renews its top management. Patrick Pouyanné is the new CEO of the French oil group, while the presidency goes to Thierry Desmarest, now honorary president, who will remain in the saddle until next year, when he will reach the age limit of 70. At that point, the post of president should also pass into the hands of Pouyanné.
The news was released today by union sources after the meeting of the Board of Directors. Total thus respects the tradition of selecting executives internally.
A former student of the prestigious Polytechniuqe, Pouyanné (51 years old) is a mining engineer and since 2011 he has held the position of CEO of the refining-chemical sector of the first French company by profit (turnover of 190 billion euros in 2013).
De Margerie died Monday night in a plane crash in Russia. He was 63 years old, had been confirmed as president and CEO in 2012 and had never publicly designated a possible successor.
