Houston-based Woodside executive Daniel Kalms will leave the business after 25 years, with the company announcing his exit this morning.
Mr Kalms, who started with Woodside in 2001, is currently an executive vice president and the company’s chief operating officer international.
His name was one of several floated as a potential internal candidate in the running for Woodside’s CEO position earlier this year – a role ultimately filled by Liz Westcott.
His departure date has not been revealed.
Mr Kalms relocated to the US in 2023 after Woodside’s merger with BHP Petroleum, playing a central role in the acquisition of Tellurian and its Louisiana LNG project.
Before that he was considered integral to the development of the Pluto project in WA and was a key figure in the preparation of the Scarborough LNG project for its final investment decision.
Ms Westcott said Mr Kalms had made his mark at Woodside.
“Daniel Kalms has had a career of distinction at Woodside and has been central to building Woodside from a primarily Australia-based company to one that now has operations across three continents and which is building a globally significant position in liquefied natural gas and other energy products,” she said.
“Daniel’s technical expertise, commercial capability and strong leadership have been fundamental to Woodside’s business success and corporate culture.
“Daniel will leave Woodside with the appreciation of all with whom he has worked over his career.
“We wish Daniel every success for the future.”
Woodside vice president Gulf of America Paa-Joe Akoto-Ampaw will act in the role while a recruitment process is run, and will join the executive leadership team during the period.
The exit comes at a critical time for the Louisiana LNG project, 28 per cent complete at the end of June, where Woodside continues to seek partners to take on equity stakes and LNG offtake.
Woodside currently owns 90 per cent of a holding company with a 60 per cent interest in the infrastructure arm of the project and is its operator.
The project is expected to cost around $24 billion to develop.
