Jean-Philippe Lauresleaves the company with immediate effect, the Dutch FPSO specialist said in a briefstatement today.

SBM declines tocomment further but said the termination had nothing to do with the company’soperational performance.

Chief executive Bruno Chabas willtake over the role while the company searches for a new face tofill the void.

Further elaboration may come when SBMreports its third quarter results next week.

The