Former German chancellor Gerhard Schröder was appointed on Friday chairman of Russian state-controlled oil producer Rosneft. The decision was reported earlier this week by TAAS, which cited sources saying a directive from the Russian government had approved the decision in mid-September.
Chair of the shareholder committee of the Russia-Germany gas pipeline Nord Stream AG, Schröder has been a staunch supporter of Putin’s state-led energy projects and opponent of sanctions against Russia.
“The addition of Schröder as an independent director will, without a doubt, support international business development,” Rosneft Chief Executive Officer Igor Sechin was quoted by Bloomberg as saying at the shareholders meeting in St Petersburg on Friday.