Essar Oil UK announces appointment of Advisory Council

Essar Oil (UK) Limited (“EOUK”) has announced the formation and appointment of the company’s first Advisory Council. EOUK owns and operates the Stanlow Manufacturing Complex in Ellesmere Port. The site is a key strategic national asset, annually producing over 16% of the UK’s road transport fuels.

The new four-person Council comprises highly experienced senior leaders from across the legal, financial and diplomatic sectors. The group will be responsible for advising the EOUK Board on a host of strategic themes, with particular focus on commercial risk management and corporate finance matters.

The announcement represents another key milestone in the company’s ongoing programme of embedding a best-in-class corporate governance and strategic leadership framework, at a time when EOUK looks to accelerate its growth ambitions and continue its transformation into a “Low Carbon Energy Provider” of the future, working to build the UK’s green economy.

The four inaugural members of the EOUK Advisory Council are:

• Sue Prevezer QC: A dual qualified barrister and solicitor with over 30 years’ experience in commercial litigation, international arbitration and mediation. Now practising at the Bar at Brick Court Chambers, Sue was formerly co-managing partner of Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP. She is a CEDR accredited mediator and arbitrator with the London Court of International Arbitration and International Chamber of Commerce. She has also sat as a Deputy High Court Judge.

• Sir John Grant: Formerly president of BHP Billiton Europe and Executive Vice-President of Policy and Corporate Affairs at BG Group, Sir John retired as Vice-President of International Government Relations at Anadarko Petroleum Corporation in 2019. A former diplomat, he was the UK’s Permanent Representative to the EU. from 2003-2007, has been a member of the Scottish Government's Standing Council on Europe, and is a member of the Advisory Board of the Centre for European Reform.

• Richard Heald OBE: An experienced corporate financier with over 30 years’ experience in international financial markets and advisory, M&A, restructuring and capital raisings for governments and major corporations globally. Formerly CEO (now Executive Chair) of the UK India Business Council. Previously he spent 17 years at Rothschilds, including as Vice Chairman of Rothschild India. In 2016, he was awarded an OBE for services to economic and trade relations between the UK and India.

• Sanjay Mehta: Mehta brings significant experience in proprietary fund management, M&A, public boards and investment trusts. As an investor and experienced mentor to C-suite leaders, Mehta is currently the Chair of ONE Trust and managing partner of ReNew ONE (UK) Limited. Previously Managing Director of Essar Capital with USD32 billion AUM, he worked at both J. Aron & Company (Goldman Sachs) and American Marine Advisors Inc. in New York.

In addition to the creation of the Advisory Council, EOUK has also announced the appointment of Andrew Wright as Non-Executive Director. Wright is qualified solicitor of England and Wales with over 20 years’ legal and commercial experience across the international oil, gas, renewables, and infrastructure industries. Wright joined Essar Capital in 2011 and currently holds the position of Senior Risk Officer for Essar Capital and is based out of the UK. Wright has extensive experience in the areas of legal, governance and risk assessment.

In addition to his appointment to the board of EOUK, Wright also sits on the board of a power business in Canada, an independent oil and gas operator with interests in Turkey as well as a Caribbean focused agriculture business.

The double announcement comes quickly after the 16th June confirmation that former Group Vice President of Global Oil Supply & Trading at BP and Chairman of Bonroy Petchem, Tim Bullock, had been appointed as independent Non-Executive Director to the Board.

EOUK Chairman, Prashant Ruia, commented: “EOUK made a clear commitment to building an industry-leading corporate governance and executive advisory regime. We continue to deliver upon that promise. We are delighted to inaugurate the EOUK Advisory Council. The Board looks forward to working with Council Members, as well as new Non-Executive Director Andrew Wright, at such an exciting time for the company.”