French oil company Total has confirmed the death of its chairman and CEO, Christophe de Margerie, who passed away in a private plane crash in Moscow.
De Margerie and three crew members were found dead at the scene of the accident, after the aircraft collided with a snow removal machine.
“The thoughts of the management and employees of the Group go out to Christophe de Margerie’s wife, children and loved ones as well as to the families of the three other victims,” the company said Tuesday in a statement.
De Margerie joined Total right after finishing university in 1974. He has held several positions with the company, including a job leading its Middle East operations. He was named CEO in 2007, and appointed Chairman in 2010.
