Australia’s Santos Appoints Long-Serving Executive Lachlan Harris as Chief Financial Officer
Energy group taps internal finance leader to steer strategy amid market shifts and investment commitments
Santos, one of Australia’s largest oil and gas producers, has appointed veteran executive Lachlan Harris as its new chief financial officer, the company said on Thursday, reinforcing continuity in financial leadership amid a period of strategic investment and energy market volatility.
Harris, who has spent nearly two decades with Santos in a range of finance and commercial roles, succeeds the outgoing CFO as the firm pursues growth and delivery of its major project pipeline.
In his new capacity, Harris will oversee Santos’s financial planning, reporting and capital allocation strategies as the company balances returns to shareholders with funding of key developments, including its Barossa gas project offshore the Northern Territory and upstream operations across Australia and Asia.
He has been integral to Santos’s financial functions for years, most recently serving as executive vice-president of finance and commercial, where he led budgeting, investor engagement and cost optimisation initiatives.
Santos chief executive Kevin Gallagher welcomed Harris’s promotion, describing him as a “proven leader with deep institutional knowledge and a clear understanding of our strategic priorities.” The board’s decision to elevate an internal candidate reflects a broader industry trend in which energy firms are prioritising financial stability and operational experience at the executive level to navigate commodity price cycles and shifting investor expectations.
Harris’s appointment comes as Santos adjusts its financial planning in response to fluctuating global energy prices and ongoing transitions in energy demand.
The company has outlined a capital discipline framework aimed at sustaining investment in high-return assets while maintaining a competitive dividend profile for shareholders.
Investors and analysts have welcomed the clarity provided by Santos’s leadership team on long-term planning, particularly in light of recent market volatility.
Prior to joining Santos, Harris held early finance roles with other major Australian corporations and brings extensive experience in corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, and strategic planning.
His elevation to the CFO role is effective immediately, and he will sit on Santos’s executive committee as the company advances key operational goals and corporate commitments in the energy sector.
Harris, who has spent nearly two decades with Santos in a range of finance and commercial roles, succeeds the outgoing CFO as the firm pursues growth and delivery of its major project pipeline.
In his new capacity, Harris will oversee Santos’s financial planning, reporting and capital allocation strategies as the company balances returns to shareholders with funding of key developments, including its Barossa gas project offshore the Northern Territory and upstream operations across Australia and Asia.
He has been integral to Santos’s financial functions for years, most recently serving as executive vice-president of finance and commercial, where he led budgeting, investor engagement and cost optimisation initiatives.
Santos chief executive Kevin Gallagher welcomed Harris’s promotion, describing him as a “proven leader with deep institutional knowledge and a clear understanding of our strategic priorities.” The board’s decision to elevate an internal candidate reflects a broader industry trend in which energy firms are prioritising financial stability and operational experience at the executive level to navigate commodity price cycles and shifting investor expectations.
Harris’s appointment comes as Santos adjusts its financial planning in response to fluctuating global energy prices and ongoing transitions in energy demand.
The company has outlined a capital discipline framework aimed at sustaining investment in high-return assets while maintaining a competitive dividend profile for shareholders.
Investors and analysts have welcomed the clarity provided by Santos’s leadership team on long-term planning, particularly in light of recent market volatility.
Prior to joining Santos, Harris held early finance roles with other major Australian corporations and brings extensive experience in corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, and strategic planning.
His elevation to the CFO role is effective immediately, and he will sit on Santos’s executive committee as the company advances key operational goals and corporate commitments in the energy sector.
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