After three years of leading the LNG Canada through key construction milestones and community collaboration, Jason Klein will step down as president and CEO on April 1, 2025. Chris Cooper, an energy sector veteran with over 35 years of experience, will succeed him in the role.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been an honour to lead LNG Canada for the past three years as we reached major construction milestones, participated in reconciliation and continued to steadily and safely advance towards delivering first cargoes of made-in-BC LNG,鈥� said Klein. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an experience I鈥檒l always cherish.鈥�
Klein will return to Shell in Houston, Texas, with his family after his term concludes. Klein鈥檚 next assignment with Shell will be announced at a later date.
LNG Canada highlighted Cooper鈥檚 extensive experience and his contributions since joining the project in 2021. According to the company, Cooper was seconded from Shell to oversee the reset and completion of the Coastal GasLink pipeline in collaboration with TC Energy. His leadership experience spans commercial operations, asset management and stakeholder relationships in the upstream, downstream and LNG sectors.
鈥淚鈥檓 pleased to continue the journey with all those involved in and around the LNG Canada investment. Together, we are setting the benchmark for economically, environmentally and socially responsible large-scale LNG production in Canada and creating a positive and lasting legacy with First Nations, the local community and for British Columbia and Canada,鈥� said Cooper.
During his time at LNG Canada, Cooper also led the company鈥檚 responsibilities for advancing Cedar LNG鈥檚 Final Investment Decision in 2024 and directed preparations for the project鈥檚 Phase 2 development. Before his current role as senior vice president for Phase 1 Pipeline and Expansion, he held leadership positions in projects in Oman and Nigeria, including Shell鈥檚 Nigeria LNG Train 7.
LNG Canada remains on track to ship its first cargoes by mid-2025. The project, touted as one of the largest private investments in Canadian history, holds a 40-year export licence and will initially produce 14 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of LNG. A proposed Phase 2 expansion could double that capacity to 28 mtpa. The final investment decision on Phase 2 is pending consideration of its competitiveness, affordability, greenhouse gas emissions and stakeholder needs.
