BP names Russia troubleshooter as U.S. boss

LONDON, Jan 6 (Reuters) - British oil major BP Plc (BP.L) appointed the man who led negotiations with its oligarch partners in Russian joint venture TNK-BP (TNBPI.RTS) as head of its U.S. unit.

BP said on Tuesday Lamar McKay, formerly leader of the company's Special Projects Team, had been appointed chairman and president of BP America.

He succeeds Bob Malone, who was appointed to the expanded role in 2006 to repair BP's reputation in the United States which had been battered by an oil spill in Alaska and a refinery explosion in 2005 killing 15 workers.

Malone is retiring after 34 years with the company, BP said.

BP was locked in a battle for control of TNK-BP, Russia's third-largest crude producer, for much of 2008. McKay led the talks with BP's billionaire partners in the 50-50 joint venture.

The shareholders reached an agreement giving the oligarchs greater control over BP in September. Since then, the Russian side has taken effective control of the company, according to TNK-BP sources.

McKay will be based in Houston. (Reporting by Tom Bergin; Editing by David Holmes)