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Christophe de Margerie, C.E.O. of Total, French Oil Giant, Dies in Accident Christophe de Margerie, C.E.O. of Total, French Oil Giant, Dies in Accident
(35 minutes later)
MOSCOW — The chief executive of the French oil company Total, Christophe de Margerie, one of the most powerful and colorful figures in the energy industry, was killed when his business jet collided with a snowplow late Monday night on a runway of Vnukovo International Airport in Moscow.MOSCOW — The chief executive of the French oil company Total, Christophe de Margerie, one of the most powerful and colorful figures in the energy industry, was killed when his business jet collided with a snowplow late Monday night on a runway of Vnukovo International Airport in Moscow.
Mr. de Margerie, a staunch defender of Russia’s energy policies during the conflict over Ukraine, went to Moscow to attend a meeting of corporate executives with Prime Minister Dmitri A. Medvedev and was returning to Paris.Mr. de Margerie, a staunch defender of Russia’s energy policies during the conflict over Ukraine, went to Moscow to attend a meeting of corporate executives with Prime Minister Dmitri A. Medvedev and was returning to Paris.
The collision occurred a few minutes before midnight as the executive’s Dassault Falcon was accelerating for takeoff, the airport said in a statement. Russian prosecutors said Tuesday that the driver of the snowplow was intoxicated. The jet’s three crew members also died, Total said.The collision occurred a few minutes before midnight as the executive’s Dassault Falcon was accelerating for takeoff, the airport said in a statement. Russian prosecutors said Tuesday that the driver of the snowplow was intoxicated. The jet’s three crew members also died, Total said.
“The thoughts of the management and employees of the group go out to Christophe de Margerie’s wife, children and loved ones as well as to the families of the three other victims,” the company said in a statement.“The thoughts of the management and employees of the group go out to Christophe de Margerie’s wife, children and loved ones as well as to the families of the three other victims,” the company said in a statement.
Mr. de Margerie, 63, led the fourth-largest of the Western multinational major oil companies by market capitalization, after Exxon, Royal Dutch Shell and Chevron, and the second-largest company in France after the drug maker Sanofi.Mr. de Margerie, 63, led the fourth-largest of the Western multinational major oil companies by market capitalization, after Exxon, Royal Dutch Shell and Chevron, and the second-largest company in France after the drug maker Sanofi.
Known for his bushy white mustache, Mr. de Margerie cut a swashbuckling figure and was on friendly terms with a wide range of industry and political figures. He often spent late nights debating the issues of the day and telling jokes with friends, and he was said by colleagues to require little sleep. A member of one of the most prominent families in France, Mr. Margerie was a grandson of the founder of the Taittinger Champagne house and the latest in a long line of ambassadors and business leaders.
He was also a strong manager who inspired respect and admiration, if his late-night revelries sometimes exasperated his colleagues. He helped position Total in countries like Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Russia as a company that could provide Western capital and technology but that was less tied than rivals like ExxonMobil and BP to the interests of the United States and Britain. Known as “Big Mustache” among his colleagues for his trademark facial hair, he cut a swashbuckling figure and was on friendly terms with a wide range of industry and political figures. He often spent late nights debating the issues of the day and telling jokes with friends, and he was said by colleagues to require little sleep.
“Mr. de Margerie is one of the most central and characteristic figures in the industry, and in our view, his loss will be deeply felt at Total both personally and organizationally,” Peter Hutton, an analyst at RBC Capital Markets in London, wrote in an email. “He has been a stronger driver of strategy, execution and culture of the company than most C.E.O.s.” He was also a strong manager who inspired respect and admiration, even if his late-night revelries sometimes exasperated his colleagues. He helped position Total in countries like Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Russia as a company that could provide Western capital and technology but that was less tied than rivals like ExxonMobil and BP to the interests of the United States and Britain.
“Mr. de Margerie is one of the most central and characteristic figures in the industry, and in our view, his loss will be deeply felt at Total both personally and organizationally,” Peter Hutton, an analyst at RBC Capital Markets in London, wrote in an email. “He has been a stronger driver of strategy, execution and culture of the company than most C.E.O.s, and while there is a strong management team, this will lead to a sense of void at the center for some time.”
Mr. de Margerie started with the company in 1974 and rose from positions in the finance and exploration divisions. He was a close associate of Thierry Desmarest, who built Total into a giant through a series of mergers culminating with the takeover of Elf Aquitaine in 2000.Mr. de Margerie started with the company in 1974 and rose from positions in the finance and exploration divisions. He was a close associate of Thierry Desmarest, who built Total into a giant through a series of mergers culminating with the takeover of Elf Aquitaine in 2000.
After becoming chief executive in 2007, Mr. de Margerie helped consolidate the merger. And he broadened Total’s base, expanding into Russia and the oil sands in Canada. He was also on good terms with Saudi oil figures and recently scored a coup by building a large refinery in the country, OPEC’s leading producer.After becoming chief executive in 2007, Mr. de Margerie helped consolidate the merger. And he broadened Total’s base, expanding into Russia and the oil sands in Canada. He was also on good terms with Saudi oil figures and recently scored a coup by building a large refinery in the country, OPEC’s leading producer.
He helped make Total one of the largest players in British and Norwegian waters. Recently, he made a small investment in British shale, possibly with the intention of provoking the French government, which so far has prevented oil companies from exploring for France’s potentially rich shale oil and gas deposits.He helped make Total one of the largest players in British and Norwegian waters. Recently, he made a small investment in British shale, possibly with the intention of provoking the French government, which so far has prevented oil companies from exploring for France’s potentially rich shale oil and gas deposits.
In a statement, the Élysée Palace said that President François Hollande appreciated Mr. de Margerie’s “independent character, his originality and his attachment to his country.”In a statement, the Élysée Palace said that President François Hollande appreciated Mr. de Margerie’s “independent character, his originality and his attachment to his country.”
“Under Mr. de Margerie, Total became one of the leading global companies,” the statement said. “Abroad, Mr. Christophe de Margerie brilliantly defended the level of excellence and success of French technology.”“Under Mr. de Margerie, Total became one of the leading global companies,” the statement said. “Abroad, Mr. Christophe de Margerie brilliantly defended the level of excellence and success of French technology.”
​Shares in the company fell as trading began in Paris and recovered by midmorning. Mr. de Margerie had not been a big winner for investors. The company’s stock price has fallen by about 16 percent since he became chief executive.​Shares in the company fell as trading began in Paris and recovered by midmorning. Mr. de Margerie had not been a big winner for investors. The company’s stock price has fallen by about 16 percent since he became chief executive.
Analysts say the bench of possible successors to Mr. de Margerie is strong, though none has his outsize personality.Analysts say the bench of possible successors to Mr. de Margerie is strong, though none has his outsize personality.
Often mentioned as a candidate is Patrick Pouyanné, Total’s president of refining and chemicals. Mr. Pouyanné is considered to have done a good job handling the tricky task of reducing his unit’s size in Europe and also has the benefit of having run the company’s business in Qatar, an important location for the company.Often mentioned as a candidate is Patrick Pouyanné, Total’s president of refining and chemicals. Mr. Pouyanné is considered to have done a good job handling the tricky task of reducing his unit’s size in Europe and also has the benefit of having run the company’s business in Qatar, an important location for the company.
Another candidate is Philippe Boisseau, who heads the gas and alternative energy business. Oil companies often pick the head of exploration and production as chief executive, but Arnaud Breuillac has held the role less than a year.Another candidate is Philippe Boisseau, who heads the gas and alternative energy business. Oil companies often pick the head of exploration and production as chief executive, but Arnaud Breuillac has held the role less than a year.
The Interstate Aviation Committee, an agency that investigates plane crashes in former Soviet states, said that it had opened an inquiry into the accident — a type known as a runway incursion — and that the French authorities would be invited to join in the work.The Interstate Aviation Committee, an agency that investigates plane crashes in former Soviet states, said that it had opened an inquiry into the accident — a type known as a runway incursion — and that the French authorities would be invited to join in the work.
The Russian state news channel Rossiya 24 reported that a thick fog shrouded Vnukovo airport overnight on Tuesday and that several planes could not land and were redirected to other Moscow airports.The Russian state news channel Rossiya 24 reported that a thick fog shrouded Vnukovo airport overnight on Tuesday and that several planes could not land and were redirected to other Moscow airports.
The Russian news agency RIA Novosti quoted an aviation expert speculating that the Dassault pilot had tried to take off early to clear the snowplow on the runway but snared the vehicle’s roof with the aircraft’s wheels and crashed. The Russian news agency RIA Novosti quoted an aviation expert speculating that the Dassault pilot had tried to take off early to avoid the snowplow on the runway but snared the vehicle’s roof with the aircraft’s wheels and crashed.
The snowplow driver was not injured, according to the statement from the airport.The snowplow driver was not injured, according to the statement from the airport.
The Investigative Committee, a Russian law enforcement organization responsible for determining criminal culpability in crashes, said in a statement that it was considering “an error of the flight controllers or actions of the snowplow driver as key versions of the accident,” along with poor weather and pilot error.The Investigative Committee, a Russian law enforcement organization responsible for determining criminal culpability in crashes, said in a statement that it was considering “an error of the flight controllers or actions of the snowplow driver as key versions of the accident,” along with poor weather and pilot error.
“It has already been established that the snowplow driver was in a state of alcoholic intoxication,” the statement said. “It is possible a decision will be made to suspend a number of the airport employee for the period of the inquiry.”“It has already been established that the snowplow driver was in a state of alcoholic intoxication,” the statement said. “It is possible a decision will be made to suspend a number of the airport employee for the period of the inquiry.”
Drunkenness on the job is a major cause of industrial trauma in Russia.
Despite the imposition of sanctions on Russia this year, the major oil companies have tried to conduct business in Russia as usual, given their tremendous investments in the country, and Mr. de Margerie’s presence in Moscow was notable in this context.Despite the imposition of sanctions on Russia this year, the major oil companies have tried to conduct business in Russia as usual, given their tremendous investments in the country, and Mr. de Margerie’s presence in Moscow was notable in this context.
President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia sent a message to Mr. Hollande saying Russia had “lost a true friend of our country.”President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia sent a message to Mr. Hollande saying Russia had “lost a true friend of our country.”
In the business world, Mr. de Margerie had gained attention for his public opposition to the sanctions applied by the United States and Europe.In the business world, Mr. de Margerie had gained attention for his public opposition to the sanctions applied by the United States and Europe.
Total is a minority owner of a Russian oil field, the Kharyaga field, and an investor in the Russian natural gas company Novatek, the second-largest gas producer in Russia after Gazprom. Total produced 179,000 barrels of oil and the equivalent in natural gas in Russia in 2012, the company said.Total is a minority owner of a Russian oil field, the Kharyaga field, and an investor in the Russian natural gas company Novatek, the second-largest gas producer in Russia after Gazprom. Total produced 179,000 barrels of oil and the equivalent in natural gas in Russia in 2012, the company said.
In Total’s most ambitious project in Russia to date, the company was a partner in Novatek’s plans to build a plant to liquefy natural gas on the Yamal Peninsula of Russia and ship fuel to China over seaways in the Arctic Ocean that were newly opened because of global warming.In Total’s most ambitious project in Russia to date, the company was a partner in Novatek’s plans to build a plant to liquefy natural gas on the Yamal Peninsula of Russia and ship fuel to China over seaways in the Arctic Ocean that were newly opened because of global warming.
Mr. de Margerie was an outspoken supporter of Russia’s position in natural gas pricing and transportation disputes with Ukraine, telling Reuters in an interview in July that Europe should not cut dependence on Russian gas but rather focus on making the supplies more secure, comparing the standoff with Moscow to building “a new Berlin Wall.”Mr. de Margerie was an outspoken supporter of Russia’s position in natural gas pricing and transportation disputes with Ukraine, telling Reuters in an interview in July that Europe should not cut dependence on Russian gas but rather focus on making the supplies more secure, comparing the standoff with Moscow to building “a new Berlin Wall.”