Patrick Brown announced as new chair of the UK oil & gas authority

UK Energy Secretary Ed Davey has announced that Sir Patrick Brown will take up the role of chairperson of the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA).

Sir Patrick will work closely with Chief Executive Andy Samuel as he continues to build the senior leadership team for the new regulator. The first three directors were announced in February and further recruitment is ongoing

Announcing the appointment, the Secretary of State said the establishment of the OGA was a key recommendation of the Wood Review and pointed to the progress made in establishing the regulatory body in a short period of time.

Mr Davey stated:

“Sir Patrick brings a wealth of experience to this role and his appointment is another step forward in getting the OGA up and running at a crucial time for the North Sea industry which plays a vital role in protecting the UK’s energy security.”

Sir Patrick Brown held various positions in the Department for Transport and the Department of the Environment, becoming Second Permanent Secretary and Chief Executive of the Property Services Agency in 1990. He was Permanent Secretary for the Department for Transport from 1991 to 1997.

Sir Patrick became a non-executive director of the Go-Ahead Group plc in 1999 and its Chairman in 2002. He was involved in the creation of the regulators Ofwat and the ORR. After that he was appointed to the Board of the Northumbrian Water Group in May 2003 and to the Board of Northumbrian Water Limited in January 2006. He was also Chairman of the Advisory Committee of Alexander Proudfoot UK and is currently a director of Camelot UK Lotteries Ltd.

Sir Patrick commented:

“I’m very pleased to be joining the OGA and look forward to working with Andy Samuel to make sure the oil and gas industry is in the best possible shape for the future.”

The OGA will become an Executive Agency in April this year, and will work with industry and government to maximise economic recovery of the UK’s oil and gas resources.