Woodside's international COO Daniel Kalms to leave the companyAnalysis

Daniel Kalms, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer International at Woodside Energy, has told the company he plans to leave. Woodside has named Paa-Joe Akoto-Ampaw, currently Vice President Gulf of America, as acting EVP and COO International while it runs a recruitment process for the permanent role.

From Pluto to the BHP Petroleum merger

Kalms joined Woodside in 2001. He led the Pluto Foundation Project through start-up in 2012, and from 2018 to 2020 he had a central role preparing the Scarborough Energy Project for a final investment decision, which Woodside's board took in 2021. As a member of Woodside's Executive Committee, he then led integration activities for Woodside's merger with BHP Petroleum, which became effective in June 2022.

The move to Houston and the Tellurian deal

After the merger, Kalms relocated from Perth to Houston and became Executive Vice President Technical Services, before moving into the EVP and COO International role in 2024. He also had a central role in Woodside's 2024 acquisition of Tellurian Inc., which gave Woodside the Louisiana LNG project it is now developing to supply gas into international markets.

What Woodside's CEO said

Woodside CEO Liz Westcott said Kalms has had "a career of distinction" at the company and credited him with helping build Woodside from a primarily Australia-based business into one with operations across three continents and a global position in LNG and other energy products. Westcott said his technical expertise, commercial ability and leadership had been fundamental to Woodside's business success and corporate culture, and wished him well for the future.

Akoto-Ampaw steps in

Akoto-Ampaw will join Woodside's Executive Leadership Team as acting EVP and COO International for the duration of the search. Westcott said Woodside's international portfolio is strong, pointing to its operating business in the Gulf of America and Senegal, the Louisiana LNG project and the Trion deepwater oil project in Mexico, along with continued evaluation of other opportunities.