UK's Grain LNG appoints new CEO 

Energy industry veteran Peter Abdo has been appointed to lead Grain LNG as the UK-based liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal’s chief executive officer (CEO).

Mr Abdo is due to start his tenure at Grain LNG on 1 October 2026.

A statement from Grain LNG announcing the appointment outlined Mr Abdo’s experience and qualifications for the role, noting that he led German multinational energy company Uniper’s global LNG activities, including trading, origination and shipping and played a key role in Uniper’s response to the EU’s pivot away from piped Russian natural gas supplies "and the development of alternative LNG supply arrangements for the German economy".

"Peter is a highly respected leader with a wealth of knowledge across the global LNG market and a proven track record of building and managing complex international energy businesses," Grain LNG board chair and Centrica managing director for gas infrastructure Martin Scargill said.

"His commercial expertise, strategic perspective and customer focused mindset make him the ideal person to lead Grain LNG through its next phase of growth."

Grain LNG is an independent 50/50 joint venture jointly owned by Centrica plc and Energy Capital Partners.

"I am delighted to join Grain LNG and to have the opportunity to lead one of Europe’s most critical energy infrastructure businesses,” Mr Abdo said. “Together, we will build on the terminal’s strong foundations and continue delivering the highest standards of safety. With LNG infrastructure and prime location at its core, we will in parallel seek avenues for growth by diversifying Grain’s strategic capabilities to serve customers across the value chain."

Simon Culkin, Grain’s current Managing Director, will be stepping down from his role on 14 August.

During his tenure, Grain said that Mr Culkin played an instrumental role in the development of Grain from its earliest stages into Europe’s largest LNG import terminal.

"His deep commitment to the business, its people, its customers and the communities in which Grain operates has left an enduring legacy," the company said.

"On behalf of the Board and shareholders, we would like to thank Simon for his invaluable contributions to Grain LNG," said Martin Scargill. "Simon’s dedication and leadership have been critical to Grain’s growth over the years."

Richard Ozsanlav, CFO, will become interim CEO for the interim period from mid-August through the end of September.