Norwegian oil and gas giant, Aker Energy, has appointed Svein Jakob Liknes, Head of Operations, as acting Chief Executive Officer of the company.
This follows the decision by Jan Arve Haugan to resign.
The firm announced this in a statement issued on Tuesday.
Svein Jakob Liknes has extensive experience both from projects and operations and he has worked closely on the Pecan PDO process, making him the right fit to lead Aker Energy,” Øyvind Eriksen, President and Chief Executive Officer at Aker ASA said.
Svein Jakob Liknes has served as Aker Energy’s Head of Operations, overseeing the company’s current Plan of Development and Operations (PDO) process.
Prior to joining Aker Energy, Liknes held the position as SVP Operations & Asset Development in Aker BP.
Liknes has a degree as Master Mariner with a bachelor in Nautical Science from the University of Stavanger and Western Norway University of Applied Sciences.
Mr.Liknes is a Norwegian citizen.
“I want to thank Jan Arve Haugan for his leadership and relentless work in building a complete exploration and field development organisation in Aker Energy. At the same time, we appreciate the opportunity to maintain our strong and long-lasting collaboration with Jan Arve Haugan in his capacity as board member in Kværner as well as in existing and new projects,” Eriksen said.
The Board of Directors of Aker Energy also made changes in both Aker Energy and TRG Energy, the owner of AGM Petroleum in Ghana in which Kjell Inge Røkke is the main shareholder, to strengthen the two companies and better reflect that they will continue to operate as separate entities also in the next phase.
The main task for TRG Energy is to quantify discoveries, including drilling new appraisal wells. Aker Energy will continue as a service provider to TRG Energy.
In addition to the reallocation of board members between TRG Energy and Aker Energy, Ms Rosalind Kainyah has decided to resign from the Board of Aker Energy and will continue to offer her support through her consultancy business.