Rafineria Gdanska chief quits just ahead of sale decision

Wojciech Zurawik, chief executive of Poland's second biggest refinery, Rafineria Gdanska (RG), has submitted his resignation. Zurawik's decision has come as a surprise, since he was considered a highly successful CEO, with the refinery doing well under his leadership despite difficult circumstances. "The resignation was my own personal decision and there was no pressure exerted on me," said Zurawik, who has been at the helm of RG since March 2000. His resignation comes just ahead of a decision this week by Nafta Polska, the agency responsible for the oil sector privatization, on its choice of a buyer for a 75% stake in the refinery. The two interested companies are MOL of Hungary and the UK's Rotch Energy. Whatever the outcome of the sale, Zurawik would probably have had to leave his post anyway, as he is one of the few remaining heads of a state-owned company who has strong links to the previous government. The supervisory board will make a decision on whether to accept Zurawik's resignation at its next meeting on March 12. (Gazeta Wyborcza, p. 17; Puls Biznesu, p. 6) A.K.