Former consultant to Irving Oil appointed at new chief executive officer

Storage tanks are seen at the Irving Oil refinery in Saint John, N.B., in this August 2013 file photo. (Andrew Vaughan/THE CANADIAN PRESS)

SAINT JOHN, N.B. -- Irving Oil has appointed a former consultant to the firm as the new chief executive of the oil company.

Ian Whitcomb, a partner with Deloitte Canada, is taking on the top job at the family-owned petroleum products refiner and distributor.

A news release says that Sarah Irving will work with Whitcomb as the executive vice president of the Saint John-based company.

The release says that Sarah Irving, the daughter of Arthur Irving, grew up in the refining and marketing business, recently completed her masters in business administration and has returned to Saint John to work as a senior leader in the company.

The company also says Mark Sherman, former general manager of refining and supply, will take on the role of vice president and chief operating officer.

The company operates Canada's largest refinery in Saint John, N.B., with production rates of over 320,000 barrels per day and it also owns 900 fueling locations in Atlantic Canada, Quebec and New England.