Total appoints chairman, CEO following death of de Margerie

Oct. 22, 2014
Convening after the sudden death of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Christophe de Margerie, the board of Total SA has unanimously appointed Thierry Desmarest as chairman and Patrick Pouyanne as CEO and president of the executive committee.

Convening after the sudden death of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Christophe de Margerie, the board of Total SA has unanimously appointed Thierry Desmarest as chairman and Patrick Pouyanne as CEO and president of the executive committee (OGJ Online, Oct. 21, 2014).

Desmarest is a member of the board and honorary chairman. He previously served as CEO before relinquishing the post to de Margerie in 2007 as the positions of CEO and chairman were split (OGJ Online, Feb. 16, 2007; May 11, 2007). Pouyanne has served as president of refining and chemicals and a member of the executive committee (OGJ Online, Nov. 29, 2011).

Desmarest’s role as chairman will conclude at yearend 2015 in accordance with the age limits stipulated in the group’s bylaws. The positions of chairman and CEO will then be recombined.

Following the designation by the Central Works Council of a board member to represent employee shareholders, scheduled for Nov. 4, the group’s board will consist of 14 members, including one employee shareholder representative.

De Margerie was appointed to the executive committee in 1999, CEO on Feb. 14, 2007, and chairman and CEO on May 21, 2010.