British Petroleum executive Keith Mullin will replace Gulf Oil Marine CEO Caroline Huot, who stepped down June 15. Gulf Deputy CEO Bernard Damin will take over Huots duties until Mullin joins the company in July.
Keith Mullin becomes CEO on the 19th of July, as until then he is still subject to his current employment contract, Gulf Oil spokesman Richard Hoare told Lube Report.
According to a LinkedIn listing for Mullin, he currently works for BP International in Australia as general manager of strategic relationships in Australia, Asia and Africa. His previous positions included Asia Pacific regional sales director for international marine with BP, and general director for Baltic Petroleum, a joint venture between BP International and LukOil.
The directors of Hong Kong-based Gulf Oil Marine and Gulf Oil International Group stated the company will continue to expand in the international marine lubricants market for the long term, and Keith is considered especially well qualified to guide Gulf Oil Marine Limited in the coming stages of its development.
The company wishes Caroline Huot, the former CEO, well in her career for the future and thanks her for her energy and enthusiasm in the start up phase of Gulfs new entry into the international marine lubricants market, the company continued. Gulf did not respond to Lube Reports inquiries about the reasons for Huots departure.
Against the odds, Caroline was able to succeed where very few people could, Steve Ames of SBA Consulting, Pepper Pike, Ohio, told Lube Report. Shes quite complete in her knowledge, from the technical aspects of the oil, all the way through to the sales of the oil – very few people have that type of background and experience.
The global marine lubricants market totals about 2.6 million metric tons a year, Ames told Lube Report. A critical barrier to entry into the market is the ability to supply globally. Historically, only five major oil companies – BP, ExxonMobil, Shell, Chevron and Total in decreasing order of volume – have dominated the marine lubricants industry, Ames said.
Gulf Oil Marine, formed in July 2008, launched the Sealub Alliance network of marine lubricant suppliers in 2008, covering more than 700 ports in 50 countries as of last year. Earlier this year, Sealub Alliance Americas partnered with several blenders and delivery agents to launch a marine lubricants manufacturing, supply and distribution network in the United States and select areas of Canada.