Lundin Energy has appointed Briton Nick Walker, 58, as CEO, the Swedish firm said on Aug. 18.

Walker has served as Lundin’s COO since 2015 and will replace current CEO Alex Schneiter on Jan. 1, 2021, the company said.

Lundin Energy became the second major player on the Norwegian continental shelf to replace its chief executive after Norway’s largest oil and gas firm Equinor appointed a new boss on Aug. 10.

Walker started his career as a petroleum engineer with BP and held various senior management positions at Bow Valley Energy, Talisman Energy and Africa Oil before joining Lundin.

Schneiter, who has led Lundin since 2015 and was at the helm during the development of Norway's giant Johan Sverdrup oilfield, will remain as a non-executive board member and adviser, Lundin said.

Lundin shares were down 0.4% at 1152 GMT on the Stockholm stock exchange.