Origin said this morning that Tremaine, who started with Woodside in 2006 after a 17-year career with Alcoa, will join the executive team at the diversified gas and energy producer later this year.

 

"Lawrie brings extensive finance and leadership experience in resources particularly oil and gas" Calabria said.

 

"Lawrie's appointment is another important step forward in achieving our immediate goal of reducing debt and improving returns so that we can position Origin for growth in a rapidly changing energy market, while delivering on the potential of our investment in Australia Pacific LNG."

 

Tremaine had been the vice president of treasury and taxation at Woodside, when he took on the CFO role in 2010. 

 

He has 30 years' financial management expertise across treasury, taxation, strategy and planning, business development, commercial contracting and procurement. 

 

He also led Woodside's continuous improvement and productivity program, targeting long-term cultural change, and will no doubt bring those skills to Origin, which is in the process of setting up the bulk of its exploration and production as a vehicle for spinning out.

 

The new Origin will retain the energy generation and LNG businesses, while the spin-out will hold the Perth Basin, Victorian and Tasmanian production assets and Origin's exploration interests.

 

Tremaine is a practising accountant who gained his Bachelor of Business degree from Chisholm Institute of Technology, Monash University. 

 

He will commence with Origin in Sydney once he has served out his notice period at Woodside.

 

Origin will report the company's its results and outlook on February 16. 

 

RBC Capital Markets believes Origin is on a path to outperform expectations this year.