UK: Essar appoints Stein Ivar Bye as chief executive officer

Former ExxonMobil and Preem executive comes in to lead Essar Oil UK.

The Board of Essar Oil UK Ltd has announced the appointment of Stein Ivar Bye, as Chief Executive Officer.

Stein Ivar Bye will be based at the company’s Stanlow Manufacturing Complex in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire. He brings with him over 28 years’ experience in the Oil and Energy sector, working internationally across Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

Stein, who graduated from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) and has an MBA in Business Strategy and Management from BI Norwegian Business School, previously spent 25 years with ExxonMobil and was latterly Chief Operating Officer at Sweden’s largest fuel company, Preem.

“As an organisation, our sights are firmly set on transforming our UK business, ensuring its growth and long term sustainability as we transition towards a low carbon energy economy and deliver the energy solutions of the future for Britain. Stein will be pivotal in meeting this challenge and fulfilling this ambition,” said Prashant Ruia, Non-Executive Chairman.

Stanlow plays a key part in the national economy, producing over 16% of the UK's transport fuels. The company is also expanding its fuel retail business through new openings and acquisitions in the UK.