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. 

Wang Yilin: Business And Politics

While business and politics are two distinct fields it is inevitable that the two engage with one another. Businessmen have to deal with politicians since they are the ones who shape the policies and laws that could be favorable or unfavorable to a businessman’s interest.

For China business and politics are very much intertwined. While the once communist country now allows private ownership, many enterprises are still run by the government and the individuals who run these companies like a private business must be members of the Communist Party of China (CPC).  You could say these individuals are highly talented since they must be astute businessmen who have to also play political roles.

One of these talented individuals is Wang Yilin. He is the Chairman of the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC). Wang is also member of the 18^th CPC, Central Committee, Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.

To be sure he didn’t reach these very high positions simply by great networking. Born in 1956, in Jiangsu Province, Ganyu County, Wang earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Petroleum and Geology and Exploration from the China University of Petroleum in 1982. He also obtained a Doctorate degree in Mineral Prospecting and Exploration from the China University of Petroleum in 2002.

Wang began his career in 1982.  Among the positions he has held include being the Deputy Director of the Petroleum Management Bureau, Xinjiang, Uygur Autonomous Region, Karamay City, Party Secretary of Xinjiang Petroleum Administration, Director and Party Secretary of Kamaray Municipal People’s Congress Standing Committee and First Party Secretary of Kamaray Military Sub-district.

After a number of promotions he became Vice President and Party Leadership Group Member of China National Petroleum Corporation in December 2003. Wang became Chairman and Party Leadership Group Secretary of CNOOC in April 2011.

CNOOC is China’s largest producer of offshore crude oil and natural gas. It is also one of the largest independent oil and gas exploration and production companies in the world and is listed in both the Hong Kong and New York stock exchanges.

Wang leads a very important company in China’s business industry and his years of experience in both the business and political worlds are now paying off.