Khalid A. al-Falih was elected senior vice-president of Saudi Aramco at the company's July executive committee meeting. Al-Falih joined the company in 1979.
In early 2003, al-Falih headed a newly formed administrative area, new business development, and in April became exploration vice-president, before his promotion.
He also serves as chairman of the newly formed South Rub' Al-Khali joint venture of Royal Dutch/Shell Group, Total SA, and Aramco.
Other moves
Unocal Corp. has named Joseph H. Bryant as Unocal's president and chief operating officer, effective Sept. 1, following the sudden death of Timothy H. Ling.
Bryant served as president of BP Angola since 2000.
Previously, he was president of BP Canada and an Amoco PLC joint venture in China. Charles R. Williamson, Unocal chairman and CEO, has been interim president.
Shell Petroleum Development Co. of Nigeria Ltd. has appointed Basil Omiyi as its managing director effective Sept. 1. Omiyi will be the first Nigerian to hold the post.
Omiyi currently is production director of SPDC. Chris Finlayson, the current managing director, has been appointed CEO of Shell Exploration & Production in Africa, effective Oct. 1. Finlayson will continue to be based in Lagos, Nigeria, and will retain the role of country chair for Nigeria.
Finlayson succeeds Shell Africa's current CEO, Brian Ward, who will be retiring.
Finlayson previously was managing director, Brunei Shell Petroleum Co.
Stephen J. Hadden has joined Devon Energy Corp., Oklahoma City, as senior vice-president, exploration and production.
Devon initiated an executive search following the retirement of J. Michael Lacey in January.
Since 2001, Hadden has worked as an independent leadership consultant. Hadden's 24 year career in the oil and gas industry was with Texaco Inc., now ChevronTexaco Corp., where he held executive management positions at various operating divisions and at the corporate headquarters.
