A flurry of changes among key executive positions at three US independent refiners tops personnel news this week.
Valero Energy Corp., San Antonio, has recently promoted two executives on its management team.
Gene Edwards has been named vice-president, planning, business development, and risk management. In his new position, Edwards will further develop Valero's planning and economics department as well as oversee the company's risk management staff. He also will work with refinery operations staff to identify and develop business opportunities at Valero's six refineries. Before being named to his new position, Edwards served as vice-president of supply, marketing, and transportation and has held various operations, planning, and marketing positions since joining the firm in 1982.
"Gene has done a tremendous job in supply, marketing, and transportation, and based on his extensive knowledge of refinery operations, he has also directed the reorganization and continued development of our planning and economics division, which is crucial to improving efficiencies throughout our refining system and maximizing our overall profitability," said Bill Greehey, Valero chairman and CEO.
Gary Arthur has been named vice-president, marketing, supply, and transportation. Before coming on board with Valero, Arthur most recently worked as a consultant. Prior to that, he served as vice-president, supply and distribution for Colonial Oil Industries starting in 1998. Before joining Colonial, Arthur worked for nearly 20 years with Ashland Petroleum Co., where he most recently served as president, business operations.
Other moves
Sunoco Inc., Philadelphia, has made several management appointments.
Carolyn L. Green has joined Sunoco as vice-president, corporate environment and safety. She replaces James R. Banks, who retired in early September. Green joins Sunoco from Enron Corp., where she headed corporate government and regulatory affairs. Before joining Enron, she was director of government and public affairs for Ultramar Diamond Shamrock Corp. Green also was environmental affairs manager for Southern California Gas Co.; a planner with the California Air Resources Board, where she helped develop the state's air quality management planning process; and deputy director for the South Coast Air Quality Management District.
In a related move, Deborah A. Donovan has been appointed manager, corporate environment, and safety. She will report to Green. Previously, Donovan was manager, responsible care, for Sunoco Chemicals. She joined Sunoco in 1997 from Ashland Chemical Co.
Vince Kelley joined Sunoco as the Philadelphia refinery manager. He replaces Michael G. Ruffner, who has retired. Kelley comes to Sunoco from ExxonMobil Corp., where he held a number of operations, maintenance, and technical positions at the major company's Paulsboro, NJ, and Torrance, Calif., refineries. Most recently, he oversaw global environmental remediation projects within Mobil (and later ExxonMobil).
Robert (Bob) W. Honse was recently named president and CEO of Farmland Industries Inc., Kansas City, Mo. Honse joined Farmland in 1973 as a project manager of the company's Lawrence, Kan., fertilizer plant. He later became general manager at the Farmland's central Florida phosphate manufacturing operations.
Honse has held a number of positions in senior management, most recently holding the position of executive vice-president and chief operating officer. Honse will be consulted through yearend by his predecessor, H.D. "Harry" Cleberg.