Santos has hired former Newcrest and Woodside senior executive Sherry Duhe as its new chief financial officer, extending a period of turnover in its upper management ranks at a time when questions are also asked about how long chief executive Kevin Gallagher will remain.

Ms Duhe, who was interim chief executive officer at Newcrest in the run-up to the sale of the gold miner to Newmont, will replace Anthea McKinnell, who is retiring after more than five years at the Adelaide headquarters.