Air France Tragedy Strongly Affects StatoilHydro

StatoilHydro, the Norwegian oil and gas giant, has been hard hit by the news that three colleages were among the passengers of Air France Flight 447 that disappeared over the Atlantic Ocean earlier this week.

Geologist Marcela Pellizzon, 29, joined StatoilHydro as a contractor in the 2008. She was married to another company employee in Brazil.

Lawyer Gustavo Peretti, 30, also came to StatoilHydro in 2008. He had worked at the Oslo office prior to transferring to the Rio office.

And laywer Kristian Berg Andersen, 37, a Norwegian citizen, joined StatoilHydro in 2002 and was said to have been instrumental in the take-over of Brazil's Peregrino field.

One of the two other Norwegians on that flight had been a supplier to StatoilHydro for 35 years.

The company's commercial activities continued, but all social activities were cancelled and forums were held to help friends and colleages deal with and express their emotions.

"We have learned that three of our people were on the flight with great sadness," said StatoilHydro Chief Executive Helge Lund. "A tragedy like this makes a deep impression on us as colleagues and managers. Our thoughts and sympathies are with the next-of-kin. ... Naturally, the Brazilian organization was particularly affected .... Our attention is now focused on supporting and assisting families and colleagues in Brazil, as well as in Norway."