Beach Energy advises that it has today appointed Mr Brett Woods as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD & CEO) to commence 21 February 2024 or such other date as mutually agreed.

Mr Woods has over 25 years of experience in upstream oil and gas including most recently 10 years at Santos where he undertook a number of executive roles including Chief Operating Officer, Vice President Developments and Vice President Eastern Australia business unit.

Beach chairman Glenn Davis welcomed Mr Woods on behalf of the board. 
“Brett is an experienced oil and gas executive with a track record in strong leadership, delivering operational excellence, project delivery and value creation for shareholders. He is a very experienced technical oil and gas leader with the skills and background to continue to strengthen our performance culture and operational delivery.”

Mr Woods said:
“Beach is in a great position with a strong portfolio of assets and a great balance sheet. I am excited to join at a time where I can help the team deliver the current projects, drive operational excellence and grow the business.”

In the intervening period current non-executive director Mr Bruce Clement has been appointed interim Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and will continue as an executive director. 

Commenting on the interim CEO role Mr Davis said the board is confident in the ability of Mr Clement to continue to deliver Beach’s growth projects and drive operational performance.

“Bruce is a very seasoned oil and gas executive with over 40 years of domestic and international experience including as a CEO. He is very familiar with our Perth Basin assets having discovered Waitsia when managing director at AWE. The board is confident Bruce can fulfil the role in the interim period and deliver value whilst in the chair.”

Mr Morné Engelbrecht has today ended his tenure as CEO. Mr Davis thanked Mr Engelbrecht for his leadership of, and contribution to, Beach both as CEO and before that as CFO.

“Morné excelled in his role as CFO and stepped into the CEO role at an uncertain time and has since guided the company through a number of operational challenges. Despite those challenges our project delivery continues to advance and Morné should be proud of his contribution to Beach. He leaves the company in good shape as evidenced by the strong recent quarterly results. On behalf of the board I thank him for his commitment and hard work.”

Mr Engelbrecht said: “I am proud of what we achieved over the last 7 years, especially my involvement as a leader, including as CEO, in the transformation of Beach from a single basin operator to a diversified growing business and safely delivering the biggest offshore development in the company’s history. I want to thank the entire Beach team for their efforts and wish them all the best as I look forward to pursuing new opportunities.”

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