Offshore staff

LOS ANGELES, California -- Occidental Petroleum Corp. Chairman, President and CEO, Ray R. Irani, says Lawrence P. Meriage will retire later this year upon completion of 27 years of service.

"Occidental has been fortunate to have an executive with Larry's expertise in communications and public affairs on our management team," Irani says.

Irani announced that the company's board of directors has elected Richard S. Kline as vice president, communications and public affairs, effective immediately.

Kline joins Occidental from Fleishman-Hillard Communications, where he served as regional president and senior partner. He previously served as president of Shandwick USA, and COO of Golin/Harris Communications, responsible for the public relations programs of several major corporations. Earlier in his career, Kline served as chief communications officer for Union Federal Savings and Loan Association and as a communications officer for Great Western Savings and Loan. Kline has a bachelor's degree from the University of Massachusetts/Amherst and is a member of the International Association of Business Communicators, the National Investor Relations Institute, and the Public Relations Society of America.

2/15/2007