Woodside Chairman Richard Goyder has been advised by CEO Peter Coleman of his intention to retire in the second half of 2021, by which time he will have served more than ten years in the role. Woodside has commenced an internal and external search for the company’s next CEO.

Mr Coleman said it is the right time to retire and transition leadership, with the company well-positioned for the future. “In this challenging year, Woodside has taken the prudent decisions needed to maintain safe and reliable operations and protect our growth plans, while setting up our company for the next phase.

“I am extremely proud of how our Woodside team has managed the uncertainty and is on track to deliver record production and exceptional safety performance,” he said.

Mr Goyder praised Mr Coleman’s leadership. “Peter has been an outstanding CEO and his focus on safety, base business and operational excellence have created a resilient and future-focused organisation.

“His commitment to prudent capital management and maintaining a strong balance sheet and liquidity has complemented his track-record for operational excellence.

“Peter is a corporate leader in safety and environmental performance, inclusion and diversity, gender equality, and Indigenous respect and awareness and has entrenched these values in Woodside’s culture,” Mr Goyder said.

Mr Coleman said he was proud of what the Woodside team had delivered in the past ten years.

“Retiring in 2021 ensures continuity to support the Scarborough investment decision, which will transform Woodside, while ensuring our international projects in Senegal and Myanmar maintain their positive momentum. We value our LNG buyers, joint venture partners and contractors who will continue to be critical to Woodside’s ongoing success.

“I will miss being part of the Woodside team. The company has been reset with a strong platform for the future, with the next stage of our journey ready for a new CEO to take the required ownership of Woodside’s significant growth projects,” he said.

KeyFacts Energy: Woodside Australia country profile