Tullow Oil plc chairman and non-executive director Phuthuma Nhlekohas has stepped down with immediate effect, to focus on “other business interests”.
His departure is one of a series which includes independent NEDs Genevieve Sangudi, Martin Greenslade and Mitchell Ingram who also leave immediately.
The company has appointed Roald Goethe as the new independent non-executive chairman of the board, with effect from 1 December 2025.
“I would like to take this opportunity to extend my thanks to Phuthuma, Genevieve, Martin and Mitch for all their contributions to Tullow, and wish them all the best for the future,” said Mr Goethe.
Mr Goethe is an experienced oil and gas executive with extensive commercial knowledge of the energy industry in Africa.
His knowledge covers business development, M&A, and in oil markets specifically financing, hedging, and trading.
In 1994, Mr Goethe joined Trafigura Group as an executive where he had a role in developing the company’s oil trading, primarily in West Africa.
In 2006, he founded his own company, Delaney Petroleum Ltd, trading crude oil and petroleum products mainly in West Africa and the Middle East.
Mr Goethe returned to work for three years at Trafigura Group in Geneva and remained an advisor until the end of 2021.
He has been on Tullow’s board as independent non-executive director since February 2023, and a member of the audit and remuneration committees.
Mr Goethe holds 28,259,396 shares and around $400,000 2026 senior notes.
Tullow said it intended to replace key posts on the board while retaining “a small, focused and aligned board going forward”.
The “significant” reduction in the size of the board also reduces costs.
As of 1 December 2025, the company’s board comprised Mr Goethe, independent NED Rebecca Wiles, chief executive officer Ian Perks and chief financial officer Richard Miller.
Tullow holds oil and gas development assets in Africa.