Stanlow oil refinery operator Essar Oil UK appoints Mike Mackay as chief transformation officer

Essar Oil UK has appointed experienced oil and gas executive Mike Mackay as its new chief transformation officer.

With more than 25 years in the industry, Mike also offers extensive experience of refining and the downstream oil sector in the UK. 

He recently returned to Essar from a successful secondment in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero as the UK downstream oil sector’s advisor to the Government. He will also join the company’s executive leadership team.

From its giant refinery at Stanlow in Ellesmere Port, close to the River Mersey, Essar supplies 16% of all the road fuels used in the UK. Employing 800 people, it also supplies fuel to several airports including Liverpool and Manchester.

Stanlow is all set to become the main hub of the multi-billion pound HyNet hydrogen consortium. This will produce hydrogen from natural gas that will be supplied to factories in the region. Carbon will be captured and stored in natural caverns under Liverpool Bay.

Mike has a Master of Arts and Master of Engineering degree from Cambridge University. He is also an alumnus of the London Business School and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chemical Engineering. 

In his new role, he will develop and implement strategies to improve business performance and reliability at Essar. 

Essar chief executive, Deepak Maheshwari, said: “We would like to welcome Mike back after his secondment.

“This is an important appointment to a senior position within the company. Mike will work closely with me to improve business performance and reliability across Essar Oil UK.”