BP says nominates Skitovich for TNK-BP CEO

LONDON May 25 (Reuters) - BP (BP.L) has nominated Pavel Skitovich as its candidate for the position of chief executive of its Russian joint venture, TNK-BP TNBPI.RTS, a BP spokesman said on Monday.

"As far as we are concerned, the search for a new CEO is over. We have formally nominated a very strong candidate and we hope that the approval process will be completed in due course," BP spokesman Toby Odone said.

Skitovich was chief executive of Polyus Gold (PLZL.MM), Russia's largest gold miner, for five months in 2007 and works for Interros, the investment company of Russian billionaire Vladimir Potanin. (Reporting by Tom Bergin, writing by Robin Paxton in Moscow, editing by Dmitry Zhdannikov)