Woodside Petroleum has named Meg O’Neill as its new chief executive.
It follows suggestions in the market on Tuesday that Geraldine Slattery, the head of BHP Petroleum, was firming as the next boss of the energy giant Woodside should a deal be finalised to buy BHP's petroleum business in the weeks ahead.
Ms O’Neill is considered an outstanding industry operator and earlier had been expected to take on the leading role of Woodside, which is chaired by Richard Goyder.
Woodside’s boss Peter Coleman stepped down in April, and Ms O’Neill has been interim chief executive.
Ms Slattery recently sold her Houston home and is now in Perth in what many had taken as a signal since last month that she was in line to take the top Woodside job following an acquisition of BHP’s petroleum assets through scrip.
Ms Slattery is known as a seasoned oil and gas executive.
It is now understood that a price has been agreed for Woodside to buy BHP’s assets, but the deal is still subject to due diligence and documentation.
While analysts believe the assets are worth $20bn, Woodside shareholders say that a deal where the price was about $13bn would gain their support.
Ms Slattery has led BHP’s petroleum business since 2019 and has at least 25 years industry experience.
Market experts say that role will provide her with the opportunity to draw on her strategic expertise gained in the UK, Australia and the United States.
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