Golar LNG chief executive Iain Ross has resigned.
The company announced the news on Monday. It said Ross' contractual termination period is six months, but this can be extended or reduced upon mutual agreement.
Golar said it will immediately start the process of recruiting his successor.
Ross joined Golar in September 2017.
A mechanical engineer by training and a former WorleyParsons executive turned private consultant, he was headhunted for the position.
When he took on the job, he admitted that he knew Golar’s name, but largely as a shipping company — an area of business he was not so familiar with.
Golar has gone through several efforts to spin off its shipping business during Ross' tenure. But the biggest change has been its shock announcement in January that it is selling off its downstream interests to New Fortress Energy (NFE).
In Golar's fourth-quarter results briefing in February, Ross and chairman Tor Olav Troim outlined a new focus on floating LNG.
Ross said at the time that the company would continue to explore simplifying its business structure further by splitting its FLNG and shipping assets.
This is the second high-profile Golar Management departure in six months.
Executive vice president Suryan Wirya-Simunovic left last year to return to Mitsui OSK Lines as director for LNG and offshore in London.
In its statement on Ross' resignation, Golar said it is in the "final stages" of closing the sale of its 50% interest in joint venture Hygo Energy Transition — the former Golar Power — and its 32% interest in its master limited partnership Golar LNG Partners to NFE for around $5bn.
"The NFE transactions will simplify the Golar group structure, crystallise underlying value and strengthen the balance sheet," it said.
Golar said most of the closing conditions have been completed, including prepayment notices issued to several Golar LNG Partners lenders.
"Closing of the transactions is expected shortly," it added.
