BP America gets native Texan as head

HOUSTON, June 20 (UPI) -- BP PLC, Britain's premier energy conglomerate, is replacing leaders of its big U.S. subsidiary, BP America.

Robert Malone, who has been running BP Shipping Ltd., will replace Ross Pillari, who is retiring July 1 after 35 years with the company, the Houston Chronicle reported Tuesday.

Malone, a 54-year-old native Texan, will move from London to Houston, where he will become chairman of BP America, overseeing its 7,000 employees working in refining, pipelines and oil and natural gas exploration and production in the United States.

Meanwhile, David Peattie, a top officer of BP Exploration and Production in London, will oversee the company's American operations outside the United States.