Gazprom chairman Alexei Miller's contract expires in May, but the government is not looking to replace him, despite his reported desire to resign because of health concerns.
By the end of the month, Gazprom stockholders are supposed to send a list of candidates for membership on the board of directors, for an election that will take place at the annual shareholders meeting in June.
Last year, the government nominated six of the 11 board members — five current or former officials and Alexei Miller. The government already has a draft list of candidates for the new board, although it hasn't yet been approved by Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin nor signed by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, an official said.
A source close to the Gazprom board said its lineup should not change. He was certain, he added, that the minority shareholders would support the current board for re-election.
Miller has been leading the company for 10 years. In all that time, Putin has never publicly criticized him. Government and Gazprom sources say Miller has asked to resign several times in the past few years for health reasons, although Miller has not confirmed that information.
Despite the government's intention to keep him at Gazprom, Miller could leave anyway, but only for health reasons.
"I'm a servant of the state, and that's all there is to say," Miller said last summer. "If there is a proposal to continue working, I'll continue working."
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