Karen Resigns as Pertamina President Director

Jakarta (Antara) - Karen Agustiawan has tendered her resignation as president director of state oil and gas company Pertamina due to personal reasons, Pertamina spokesman Ali Mundakir reported. "It is true she has filed a letter of resignation to the company, with a copy addressed to the state enterprises minister. She has decided to resign as she wants to spend the rest of her life with her family," Ali told the press here on Monday. The letter of resignation was dated August 13, 2014. According to procedure, the letter of resignation must have been filed 30 days before the date of resigning. Karen, who will resign on October 1, 2014, had assumed the post of Pertamina president director on February 5, 2009. She was earlier Pertamina upstream director until March 5, 2008. On March 5, 2013, the government had reappointed her as Pertamina president director until 2018. "So, Mrs Karen has occupied the posts of director and president director for six and a half years," Ali said. Six and a half years were enough for Karen to promote Pertamina, and she felt it was time to provide opportunities to her subordinates, he noted. Ali said Karen had successfully turned Pertamina into a world-class company. According to Fortune 500 magazine, Pertamina was ranked 122nd in 2013 and 123rd in 2014 among the world's leading companies. Ali said Karen had filed a letter of resignation a year ago. "When the government reappointed her last year, Mrs Karen had objected to her second term but State Enterprises Minister Dahlan Iskan retained her," he noted. Karen will serve as Pertamina president director until October 1, 2014, he said. "Right now she is making an official trip to Malaysia," he revealed. Ali denied that Karen had decided to resign after she had received an offer to occupy a political seat. "There has been no offer to occupy political post. The truth is that she has received an offer from an international education institution and corporation. She, however, has affirmed that she will take rest after resigning as Pertamina president director," he added. (*)