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Total names new leadership

October 22, 2014

Following the tragic death of Christophe de Margerie in Moscow, French oil giant Total has named new leaders to be at the helm of one of the largest energy firms. A probe into the former CEO's accident is underway.

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Total logo
Image: picture-alliance/dpa

French oil company Total on Wednesday said it had named Patrick Pouyanne as chief executive after the shocking death in a plane accident of former CEO Christophe de Margerie.

The 51-year-old Pouyanne was chosen at a meeting of the board of directors. He has led Total's refining and chemicals division since 2012, starting his work for the oil giant back in 1997 as head of exploration and production in Angola.

The company also appointed Thierry Demarest chairman of the board until 2015 by which time Pouyanne was supposed to occupy both top posts.

Probe well underway

Desmarest was Total's CEO between 1995 and 2007 and honorary president of the board of directors since 2010.

In Moscow, French investigators on Wednesday joined a local team to probe de Margerie's fatal accident on Monday night which Russian experts said was caused by criminal negligence on the part of senior airport officials.

Investigators began analyzing the black boxes that recorded the flight history and conversations in the cockpit.

hg/ng (AFP, AP)