WOODSIDE chief executive Peter Coleman has announced he intends to retire in the second half of 2021.

At this point he will have been in the job for more than a decade.

Mr Coleman said it was the right time to retire and transition leadership.

“In this challenging year, Woodside has taken the prudent decisions needed to maintain safe and reliable operations and protect our growth plans, while setting up our company for the next phase,” he said.

“I am extremely proud of how our Woodside team has managed the uncertainty and is on track to deliver record production and exceptional safety performance.”

Chairman Richard Goyder praised Mr Coleman’s leadership.

“Peter has been an outstanding CEO and his focus on safety, base business and operational excellence have created a resilient and future-focused organisation,” Mr Coleman said.

“His commitment to prudent capital management and maintaining a strong balance sheet and liquidity has complemented his track-record for operational excellence.

“Peter is a corporate leader in safety and environmental performance, inclusion and diversity, gender equality, and Indigenous respect and awareness and has entrenched these values in Woodside’s culture.”

Mr Coleman said he was proud of what the Woodside team had achieved.

“Retiring in 2021 ensures continuity to support the Scarborough investment decision, which will transform Woodside, while ensuring our international projects in Senegal and Myanmar maintain their positive momentum,” he said.

“We value our LNG buyers, joint venture partners and contractors who will continue to be critical to Woodside’s ongoing success.”