BP exec Suttles leaving spill response for old job; VP Utsler to take over cleanup

BP’s top oil spill response exec back to old job

NEW ORLEANS — The BP executive responsible for the petroleum giant’s response to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is returning to his old job in Houston.

BP announced Friday that Doug Suttles will leave immediately for his previous job as chief operating officer for BP Exploration and Production. He has spent more than three months managing the oil spill response.

Suttles will be replaced by Mike Utsler, who has been running BP’s command post in Houma (HOH-muh), La., since April. Utsler has been a vice president at BP and been with the oil giant for 33 years.

BP is closing in on sealing its blown-out oil well. Millions of gallons of crude have gushed into the Gulf of Mexico since a deep-water rig exploded in April and killed 11 workers.