Who is the new president of BP-Azerbaijan?

On November 2, 2012 BP announced appointment of Gordon Birrel as BP-Azerbaijan President. Who is Mr. Birrel? BP-Azerbaijan press release says that

Gordon Birrell is a highly experienced oil and gas industry professional with a 26-year track record of leading and operating in the Upstream. 

He joined BP in 1986 into the BP Graduate Training Programme. He spent the early part of his career in a variety of operating, engineering and leadership roles both onshore and offshore in the North Sea - in Sullom Voe Terminal and in BP's Central Engineering Organization. 

In 1999 he moved to London to BP's corporate headquarters, holding a number of staff roles.  He then moved to Azerbaijan to lead Exploration and Appraisal projects including the early stages of the Shah Deniz Development.

From 2001 to 2005 Gordon led BP's production operations in Alaska and Canada as Performance Unit Leader and Business Unit Leader respectively. In 2005 he was appointed Business Unit Leader for BP's mature assets in the North Sea, responsible for a business producing around 250,000 barrels equivalent of oil and gas a day.  During this period he was a Director of BP Exploration Operating Company Ltd and Britoil plc.  

He then went on to hold a number of roles including Upstream Technology Vice President and Head of Upstream Executive Office. 

Since late 2010 he has been the Head of Safety and Operational Risk for BP's Production Division leading a global team that is deployed into each region where BP operates in the upstream around the world.  He was also a Director of the BP Subsea Well Response Company Ltd.

Gordon is currently a Vice Chairman of the International Oil and Gas Producers Association (OGP), the global trade association for upstream oil and gas producers. He has been a member of the OGP Management Committee for four years. 

He is a chartered engineer and a Fellow of the Institute of Engineering and Technology.

Gordon has an MBA from Warwick University and an honours degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh.  

Gordon is married and has three sons.-0--