UPDATE 1-Petroplus names Total veteran Vettier as new CEO
* Petroplus CEO Lavinia to step down on Sept. 1
* Jean-Paul Vettier to take up helm
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GENEVA, May 18 (Reuters) Petroplus (PPHN.VX: Quote, Profile, Research), Europe's largest independent crude oil refiner, said on Monday chief executive Bob Lavinia would step down on Sept. 1 and be succeeded by Jean-Paul Vettier.
Vettier, a Total (TOTF.PA: Quote, Profile, Research) veteran, had the skills needed to push Petroplus forward and to take advantage of growth opportunities, chairman Thomas O'Malley said in a statement.
"Jean Paul was intimately involved in the acquisitions of Petrofina and Elf Aquitaine and the subsequent integration of three separate refining systems Total, Elf and Petrofina into one unified organization at Total," O'Malley said.
Earlier this month, Petroplus said it wanted to continue buying refineries despite swinging unexpectedly into the red in the first quarter and giving a weak outlook for industry margins. [ID:nL6961833]
The group said at the time the challenging environment lent itself to opportunities to buy refining assets at low valuations. Continued...
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