MOSCOW (MRC) -- LyondellBasell has announced that Chief Executive Officer James L. Gallogly will retire from the company in early 2015, reported the company in its press release.
Gallogly will continue to serve as CEO and chairman of the LyondellBasell management board in the interim to ensure an orderly transition pending the selection of his replacement. The LyondellBasell supervisory board of directors has formed a committee to choose Gallogly's successor.
In May 2014, shareholders approved the expansion of the company's management board, chaired by Gallogly, to include Craig B. Glidden, executive vice president and chief legal officer, Karyn F. Ovelmen, executive vice president and chief financial officer, Bhavesh (Bob) V. Patel, executive vice president – Olefins & Polyolefins - EAI and Technology, Timothy D. Roberts, executive vice president – Olefins & Polyolefins – Americas, and Patrick D. Quarles, senior vice president – Intermediates and Derivatives. The management board members were elected to four-year terms to ensure continued strong leadership and executive continuity at the company.
"The entire management board has demonstrated exceptional business leadership and I am confident the transition will be seamless," Gallogly said.
"Under Jim's leadership, LyondellBasell successfully emerged from bankruptcy in record time and today is an industry leader with a very strong balance sheet and strategically positioned manufacturing facilities," said Robert G. Gwin, chairman of the LyondellBasell supervisory board. "The supervisory board is grateful to Jim for his exceptional contributions to the company. As the company moves forward, we will build on the solid foundation Jim created by continuing to focus on safety, cost control, taking maximum advantage of market opportunities and by investing in technology-driven growth," he added.
As MRC informed previously, LyondellBasell is evaluating a further expansion project at its petrochemical plant in Channelview, Texas, that would potentially add up to 550 million lb/year (250,000 tpy) of ethylene capacity. Preliminary engineering work is already underway to assess expansion feasibility. If the project proceeds, the anticipated time frame for completion would be 2017.
LyondellBasell Industries NV is a manufacturing company. The company produces chemicals, fuels, and polymers used for packaging, clean fuels, durable textiles, medical applications, construction materials, and automotive parts. LyondellBasell Industries operates globally and is headquartered in the Netherlands. LyondellBasell is also a leading licensor of polypropylene and polyethylene technologies. The more than 250 polyolefin process licenses granted by LyondellBasell are twice that of any other polyolefin technology licensor.
MRC