admin 
Patrick Pouyanné: The Transformational Leader at the Helm of Affairs in TotalEnergies
Patrick Pouyanné sits atop one of the top ten most notable energy companies of the world—TotalEnergies—a French oil and natural gas company which marked its 100 years of existence just last year (2024).
Pouyanné had his tertiary education at École Polytechnique, where he studied engineering. Because he emerged as one of the top-ranking students, he was recruited by the Élite Corps des Mines engineers, which significantly fast-tracked his career in the French administration.
Patrick Pouyanné began his career as a public servant in the country’s Ministry of Industry in 1989. He held different government positions in 1993, 1995 and 1996. He moved to the private sector in January 1997 when he joined ELF, a petroleum company. Three years later, in 2000, Total took over Elf, with Pouyanné being retained in the new conglomerate. Within two years, he proved his worth in the new organization and became Senior Vice President of the exploration and production department, in charge of Finance, Economics and Information Systems.
A series of career moves saw him occupying various positions from 2006, 2011 and 2012. By 2014, Patrick Pouyanné was made the CEO of TotalEnergies, a position he holds till today.
Arun Kumar Singh, Chairman/CEO ONGC: Balancing Diplomatic Finesse with Technical Expertise and High Stakes Decision Making
With a background shaped by diplomacy and foreign service and a degree in mechanical engineering and economics, Arun Kumar Singh combines a unique blend of different remarkable professions into his roles as head of India’s Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC).
Without the iota of doubt, the oil and gas industry is often characterized by certain peculiar factors, therefore, certain skills are a sine qua non for anyone heading such an industry. These include the ability to engage in intense negotiations, strategic maneuvering, careful planning, creative thinking and problem-solving abilities.
Singh’s educational background and wide experiences have equipped him for this. He obtained a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the National Institute of Technology, Patra and a further master’s degree in Economics from the University of Delhi. This versatility in his education makes Singh to be uniquely positioned to provide varying perspectives and solutions to the myriad of problems that he could encounter in his leadership role in an oil and gas industry.
Important Quotes by Singh
“If you have to be a leader, you have to give a helping hand.”
“If a bullet had to hit my staff, it had to cross me first.”
By our Reporter
