Li Fanrong: CNOOC CEO

Li Fanrong has been the CEO China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) since November 2011 and was appointed as President in September 2010. Li was born in 1963 and is a senior engineer. He earned a B.S. degree majoring in oil production from Jiang Han Petroleum Institute in China in 1984.  Li also earned an MBA degree from the Business School of Cardiff University in the United Kingdom July 2003.

Li has more than 27 years of experience in the oil and gas industry in China. He joined the company that he would one day lead in 1984. Li was a Petroleum Engineer in Nanhai East Oil Corporation of CNOOC from 1984 to 1989.  He then worked as Offshore Platform Supervisor in Huizhou Oil Field for ACT (AGIP-Chevron-Texaco) Operators Group, later at Production Manager in Liuhua Oil Field Joint Operation Group with Amoco Orient Company, and Assistant to President of CNOOC China Limited Shenzhen Branch and Managing Director of Lufeng 22-1 Oil Field Joint Operating Group with Statoil (Orient) Inc. from 1989 to 2001.  

Li then worked as Vice President of CNOOC China Limited Shenzhen Branch and Chief Representative of Joint Management Committee of CACT (CNOOC-AGIP-Chevron-Texaco) Operators Group from January 2002 to November 2005. He next worked as General Manager of Development and Production Department of the Company from November 2005 to February 2007.

Li continued his climb up the corporate ladder and was President of CNOOC China Limited Shenzhen Branch from February 2007 to January 2009. He became Assistant Vice President of CNOOC on January 2009 until April 2010.  Li served in various capacities until his promotion to CEO on November 2011.

CNOOC is listed on both the New York and Hong Kong stock exchanges. It is the largest offshore oil and gas producer in China. The firm is a state owned company operating directly under the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China.