Marathon appoints new leader for US refining

Marathon Petroleum Corp. (MPC) announced the retirement of Richard D. Bedell, senior vice president of refining, effective March 1. Raymond L. Brooks, currently general manager of MPC's Galveston Bay refinery in Texas City, Texas, will replace Bedell.

Bedell joined Marathon in 1979 and held numerous positions of increasing responsibility in the company, including serving as general manager of MPC's refineries in Garyville, Louisiana, Robinson, Illinois, and Texas City.

"Rich's leadership has been instrumental in transforming our refineries into the flexible, integrated system they are today," said MPC president and CEO Gary R. Heminger. "His expertise and devotion to safety, environmental performance and operational excellence have helped to make us one of the most respected refining systems in the nation. All of us at MPC thank him for his decades of service and wish him well in his retirement."

Brooks began his career with MPC in 1983, and has held several senior management positions throughout the company, including at MPC's refineries in Catlettsburg, Kentucky, Robinson and Texas City, as well as senior management positions at MPC's headquarters in Findlay.

Brooks has served as the general manager of MPC's refineries in Robinson and St. Paul Park, Minnesota (no longer owned by MPC), in addition to his current role at the Galveston Bay refinery. 

Brooks graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering in 1983. In 1988, he received his master's degree in business administration from the University of New Orleans.

"We are fortunate to have Ray's depth and breadth of experience to take over as head of our Refining organization," said Heminger. "He will make lasting contributions as we continue to optimize and strategically expand our system."