Outgoing Sovcomflot CEO Sergey Frank made the decision to step down to focus more on strategy rather than operations, industry sources have said.
They told the Kommersant daily that the reshuffle at the state tanker and LNG carrier owner could also free the long-serving executive to pursue a new project.
The Russian government confirmed Frank's departure on Wednesday.
A board meeting to elect him as Sovcomflot chairman could take place on 24 September, the report said.
Industry sources said Frank, who will be 60 next year, wanted to move away from operational management and has always been supportive of bringing in new blood and generational change.
He will now have more time to work on the company’s strategy and major deals after 15 years at the head of the company.
Frank is being replaced by vice president Igor Tonkovidov.
Outsider unimaginable
Sources said it was impossible to imagine someone from outside the company being brought into the top job.
Tonkovidov is the most appropriate candidate in terms of his experience, skills and reputation within the industry, one source added.
His appointment will leave the chief technical officer role open at Sovcomflot.
Tonkovidov was born in 1964 in Khabarovsk.
He is a trained marine engineer and previously worked for Sovcomflot from 1993 to 2003 before going on to work for Volga-Baltic Shipping Company.
Tonkovidov then went on to run Sovcomflot subsidiary Novoship before re-joining the parent company again in 2012.
