Pavilion Energy managing director Alan Heng is to step into the position of interim group chief executive to replace Frederic Barnaud, who has opted to leave the role.
The Singapore LNG trader and bunker supplier said Heng will take over on 26 August after Barnaud elected to step down as group chief executive and return to Europe to be with his family.
Pavilion said Heng joined the company in 2013 and has been "instrumental" in developing its activities in Singapore.
The Temasek-controlled company said he has been in the energy industry for 33 years and was previously in various management positions at major ExxonMobil.
Barnaud's departure will come as a surprise to many.
The French national is a well-known face in LNG circles.
He took on the top job at both Pavilion Energy and its subsidiary Pavilion Gas on 1 February 2018. Prior to that, he worked as chief commercial officer at Gazprom Marketing & Trading and served as the global head of LNG Trading & Shipping at energy major Total.
During his time at Pavilion, Barnaud was instrumental in buying the LNG assets of Spanish energy company Iberdrola and opening a new European headquarter for the Singaporean company in Madrid.
He also oversaw the development of LNG bunkering and trading at the company along with decarbonisation efforts, including the import of a first carbon neutral LNG cargo into Singapore.
Pavilion Energy chairman Hassan Marican thanked Barnaud for his leadership of the company and wished him well for the future.
He said: “Frederic has laid a strong foundation for the group with the development of its LNG business and its expansion into Europe."
