Science & Technology

BP has announced the appointment of Dr Angela Strank to the position of BP Chief Scientist. She succeeds Dr Ellen Williams, who has been nominated as Director of the Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy, in the US Department of Energy.

As Chief Scientist, Dr Strank will be responsible for developing strategic options to ensure the company can benefit from developments in science and technology worldwide. She will also co-ordinate BP's Technology Advisory Council (TAC) which advises BP's executive management on the status of science and technology within the company. The TAC is chaired by Professor Dame Ann Dowling, a non-executive director of BP.Dr Strank will be based in London and will move into the new role with effect from 1 May, 2014.

Since joining BP as a geologist in 1982, Dr Strank has held a wide variety of technical and commercial leadership roles in BP's upstream and downstream businesses and in its corporate centre, working in the UK, US, Africa and Asia. Most recently, for the past two years she has worked directly for BP Group Chief Executive Bob Dudley, as joint head of his executive office.

Bob Dudley said: "Angela's technical expertise and leadership experience range right across BP's businesses - from geology and exploration to tribology and fuel formulation. This gives her a deep understanding of how science and technology remain central to all that BP does and I know that Angela will help keep BP at the forefront of scientific development and its application."

Dr Strank has a PhD in geology from the University of Manchester and the Institute of Geological Sciences and has published over 30 scientific papers in a variety of journals.

She is a board governor of the University of Manchester; a member of the International Advisory Board of the International Energy Institute, University College, London and a non-executive director of Severn Trent plc.

In 2010, she was the recipient of the UK's 'First Women Award' for Science and Technology.