Energy leadership shifts: Tullow, Adura, Panoro and Meren announce new executives
Four offshore energy companies—Tullow Oil, Adura Energy (a Shell-Equinor joint venture), Panoro Energy and Meren Energy—have announced key executive appointments that reflect a renewed focus on operational excellence, regional growth and energy security.
Tullow Oil appoints Ian Perks CEO
London-based Tullow Oil Plc has named Ian Perks CEO, effective Sept. 15. Perks brings more than 30 years of upstream oil and gas experience, having led multi-billion-dollar LNG and gas projects across Africa, Australia and the Caribbean. His leadership at BG Group, Anadarko and Total includes leading the $20 billion Mozambique LNG project to FID and overseeing delivery and operations of the $10 billion QGC LNG project in Queensland. Perks aims to stabilize Tullow’s financial footing and expand its footprint across Africa, leveraging the company’s existing assets and regional reputation.
Adura Energy names Neil McCulloch CEO and Nicoletta Giadrossi chair
Adura Energy, the newly formed UK North Sea joint venture between Shell and Equinor, has appointed Neil McCulloch CEO and Nicoletta Giadrossi chair. McCulloch, currently CEO of Spirit Energy, brings deep expertise in offshore production and energy transition leadership. Giadrossi, a seasoned board leader in energy and infrastructure, will guide Adura’s governance and strategic direction. Adura is positioned to become the largest independent producer in the UK North Sea, with expected output of 140,000 boe/d. The venture consolidates Shell and Equinor’s UK offshore assets and is headquartered in Aberdeen.
Panoro Energy appoints Eric d'Argentré COO and president
London-based Panoro Energy ASA has named Eric d'Argentré COO and president. With nearly three decades at Perenco, d'Argentré has led operations in Cameroon, the UK, Colombia, Ecuador and Turkey, managing production levels up to 100,000 boe/d. His appointment supports Panoro’s next phase of growth as a leading independent producer in Africa. He holds advanced degrees in mechanical and offshore petroleum engineering and will be based in London.
Meren Energy restructures executive roles amid COO departure
Canada-based Meren Energy Inc. has announced a leadership transition following the departure of COO Craig Knight, who stepped down Aug. 31 for personal reasons. Meren has merged the COO and chief commercial officer (CCO) roles into a new position: chief commercial and operating officer (CCOO). Former CCO Dr. Oliver Quinn has assumed the expanded role, overseeing operations in Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea and South Africa, along with technical and HSE functions. This is in addition to his existing responsibilities for business development, commercial, and planning and economics.
About the Author
Ariana Hurtado
Editor-in-Chief
With more than a decade of copy editing, project management and journalism experience, Ariana Hurtado is a seasoned managing editor born and raised in the energy capital of the world—Houston, Texas. She currently serves as editor-in-chief of Offshore, overseeing the editorial team, its content and the brand's growth from a digital perspective.
Utilizing her editorial expertise, she manages digital media for the Offshore team. She also helps create and oversee new special industry reports and revolutionizes existing supplements, while also contributing content to Offshore's magazine, newsletters and website as a copy editor and writer.
Prior to her current role, she served as Offshore's editor and director of special reports from April 2022 to December 2024. Before joining Offshore, she served as senior managing editor of publications with Hart Energy. Prior to her nearly nine years with Hart, she worked on the copy desk as a news editor at the Houston Chronicle.
She graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Houston.