BP PLC (BP.LN) said Tuesday that Bob Fryar will become its new head of safety and operational risk, reporting directly to Chief Executive Bob Dudley.

Mr. Fryar, who is executive vice president for production in BP's upstream business, will take up his new position from Feb. 15.

He will take over from Mark Bly, who has headed BP's safety functions since March 2008 and who plans to retire from BP in the summer.

"Bob Fryar's deep technical expertise, profound knowledge of our operations and commitment to our values will serve him well in his new role on my executive team," said Mr. Dudley.

The role includes oversight for security, which is headed by Derek Porter.

The retirement of Mr. Bly and appointment of Mr. Fryar aren't connected to the recent attack by Islamist militants on the In Amenas gas plant in Algeria that is run by a partnership of BP, Norway 's Statoil ASA (STO) and Algerian state oil company Sonatrach, a spokesman said.

Following the attack, which left at least 37 foreigners dead, BP said it would keep the security situation under close review across the region.

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