Eni Appoints New Upstream Head

Italian energy company Eni has appointed geologist Alessandro Puliti, its chief technology officer, as upstream boss with effect from September 1. He succeeds Antonio Vella, who will leave the company at the end of the year, after a career spanning over more than 30 years, Eni said.

Puliti inherits a business in robust shape, with the giant Zohr find off Egypt ramping up quickly; the nearby Noor prospect to be drilled; as well as a growing east African business, among other gassy assets.

Puliti joined Eni’s reservoir department in 1990. Since then, he has held positions of increasing responsibilities within the upstream business, both in regional management – as managing director in key countries such as Egypt and Norway – and in headquarter strategy, in departments such as reservoir and drilling.

Eni said Vella had strengthened Eni’s upstream activities, "in spite of the challenging market situation. He has done so by ensuring a significant production growth, a constant focus on operational efficiency and a substantial cash generation by his department, at a time of a highly volatile oil price."