OIL and gas veteran John Warrender has been appointed chief executive of Decom North Sea, the Aberdeen-based membership organisation for the oil and gas decommissioning sector.

Mr Warrender has more than 30 years’ domestic and international experience in the sector including in the strategic development of complex decommissioning programmes in the North Sea.

Most recently an independent adviser to the industry, he spent over 20 years with ConocoPhillips in a range of roles, including as general manager for upstream gas assets in the UKCS. He was also on the board of Repsol Sinopec as managing director for its subsidiary during a key transformative phase.

Nigel Lees, chairman of Decom North Sea’s board, said: “Using his considerable experience in performance management and board governance – together with a critical understanding of the requirements of a prominent industry trade association – John has the ability to ensure Decom North Sea meets the diverse needs of our members while enhancing collaboration with key stakeholders and the wider energy industry.

“In doing so, we can create a class-leading supply chain which can benefit from export opportunities to other basins.”