Tullow replaces MD Martin Mbogo amid reorganisation

Tullow has replaced country managing director Martin Mbogo in the latest reorganisation at the British oil company. 

In a statement issued on Thursday, the firm said it was making a series of changes to its organisation in Nairobi and London as part of wider changes at the Tullow Oil group globally and following the recent extension of its licence in Kenya. 

The firm said to ensure business continuity, Madhan Srinivasan, currently Tullow Kenya’s Asset Director, will succeed Mr Mbogo as MD ‘with immediate effect.’ 

“These changes will allow Tullow to work effectively with its Joint Venture Partners on its previously announced comprehensive review of the Project Oil Kenya development concept to ensure that it will be robust at low oil prices,” Tullow said. 
 
Coming months after a major retrenchment exercise, Tullow said its Kenyan team would be reduced over the coming months as the work programme required to deliver the comprehensive review is compiled. 

“Because there will be very limited activity in the field and the Group will be sharing resources with its Joint Venture Partners, the team will be considerably smaller although the final headcount is yet to be confirmed,” the firm said. 

Mbogo, who will officially exit the firm in December, has been at Tullow for a decade.

“Martin has served Tullow with diligence and dedication and received numerous prestigious awards, including the Order of the Grand Warrior (OGW) for pioneering work in Kenya’s oil and gas sector,” the firm said. 

It said his leadership highlights include championing capacity building and local content at national and community levels, as well as overseeing the first ever crude oil export cargo out of East Africa in 2019. 

Madhan has over 27 years of experience and has worked on Project Oil Kenya for the past six years. 

“We sincerely thank Martin for his contributions and achievements for Tullow and the Kenyan Oil & Gas sector in a challenging environment. His passionate advocacy of Local Content and the localisation of staff and contractors has set an example of what can be achieved by companies that take their obligations to host nations and communities seriously. Martin leaves Tullow with our very best wishes for the future,” Rahul Dhir, the new Tullow Plc global CEO said.  

The incoming Tullow Kenya boss Madhan Srinivasan said he will be working closely with staff, joint venture partners and the government of Kenya as they take a fresh look at the project.

“This is a project and a resource of scale that can and will have a major social and economic impact in Kenya when it is developed, and I look forward to building on the work that Martin has done over the past decade,” Mr Srinivasan said.