WASHINGTON: BP America named company veteran Ray Dempsey VP of government and public affairs, a new role in which Dempsey will work with stakeholders in Washington.
Dempsey, who has worked for BP for 20 years, led external affairs for the oil company in Florida this summer as part of the company's Deepwater Horizon Response team.
BP owns the Deepwater Horizon well, which exploded in the Gulf of Mexico in April, causing the world's largest offshore spill.
Dempsey most recently served as VP of strategy and portfolio for the company's fuels value chain strategic performance unit, where he handled market analysis, business development, long-term strategy, and project implementation.
According to BP, Dempsey oversaw external affairs and crisis management for BP's Latin America and Caribbean region from 2005 to 2008.
In his new role, which was effective September 1, BP said that Dempsey will work closely with David Nagel, EVP of federal and international affairs for BP America. He is based in Washington and reports to Nagel.
Anne Womack Kolton, head of US media relations, left BP after being hired to replace Ronnie Chappell, who retired in 2009. News reports later said that Scott Dean had been promoted to head of US media relations and that BP is looking for a head of global communications.
