Gretchen Watkins was appointed CEO of Maersk Oil in October 2016, having joined in 2014 as Chief Operating Officer and member of Maersk Oil's Executive Team.

With more than 20 years of international energy experience, Gretchen has worked in a variety of leadership roles in North America, Europe and Asia.

As Vice President for International Production Operations and Vice President for North American Production Operations at Marathon Oil, she managed large production portfolios across many countries offshore, onshore, conventional and unconventional assets.

Previously Gretchen spent 18 years with Amoco and BP where she held a variety of executive leadership positions including as Director General of the company’s Vietnam and China E&P business, Vice President of the North American Natural Gas Liquids business and President of BP Netherlands Energy E&P.

Gretchen studied Mechanical Engineering at Pennsylvania State University and has had executive education at Cambridge and Stanford Universities.