ARII gets new president

ARII gets new president

JAKARTA (JP): The state oil company Pertamina reported
yesterday that its production-sharing contractor, Atlantic
Richfield Indonesia Inc. (ARII), will install Leon Codron as its
new president today.

"Codron will replace T.N. Machmud, who is entering his
retirement period after holding the post for 11 years," Pertamina
spokesman Didi Sunarwinadi announced yesterday.

Cordon is the vice president for international marketing
affairs of ARII's principal company, Arco Cop., in Plano, Texas.

Didi said that the replacement of Machmud by a foreign
national should not be seen as the failure of the company's
management to prepare Indonesian candidates for the post.

The company has been criticized by its own staff members and
government officials due to its failure to promote an Indonesian
executive to the top level of the company to replace Machmud.
They said the appointment of any top foreign executive of Arco
would be a "setback" for the company's management.

ARII, now the biggest supplier of natural gas for the state
electricity company PT PLN and Petrokimia Gresik, has concessions
offshore West Java, in Babo and Waringan, both in Irian Jaya, and
in Kolasi in Sulawesi. (fhp)