NU Online News Service, June 24, 11:15 a.m. EDT

British Petroleum announced that effective immediately, it has appointed Bob Dudley as president and chief executive officer of its Gulf Coast Restoration Organization, reporting to Tony Hayward, BP's group chief executive.

The newly formed organization will manage all aspects of the response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, ensuring that BP fulfils its promises to the people of the Gulf Coast and continues its work to restore the region's environment, BP noted.

BP said the decision to establish the organization in no way limits the resources that are available to meet the company's commitments to clean up the spill and restore the Gulf Coast.

Specifically, BP said the newly-formed Gulf Coast Restoration Organization will continue executing clean-up operations; coordinate with government officials; keep the public informed of BP's clean-up and remediation activities; implement the $20 billion escrow account BP announced to compensate individuals, businesses and others impacted by the spill; and continue to evaluate the spill's impact on the environment.

Under this structure, BP's Gulf States response activities, which are centered in the Unified Command with the Coast Guard in New Orleans, will now report directly to Mr. Dudley.

"The response to the incident in the Gulf of Mexico continues to be BP's highest priority," Mr. Hayward said. "Our commitment to the Gulf States is for the long-term. And that requires a more permanent sustainable organization to see it through."

Mr. Dudley said, "In the near term, my focus will be on listening to stakeholders so we can address concerns and remove obstacles that get in the way of our effectiveness. And we'll build an organization that over the longer term fulfils BP's commitments to the restore the livelihoods and the environment of the Gulf Coast."

On his selection of Mr. Dudley to lead the new organization, Mr. Hayward commented, "Having grown up in Mississippi, Bob has a deep appreciation and affinity for the Gulf Coast, and believes deeply in BP's commitment to restore the region."

Special Reports /

BP Names Dudley To Head Gulf Coast Restoration

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