Arco’s Bowlin Takes API Chair

Atlantic Richfield Co. Chairman and Chief Executive Mike R. Bowlin was elected chairman of the American Petroleum Institute, replacing Amoco CEO Fuller, whose company is merging with British Petroleum.

“Unless we want to change the name of this organization to the Anglo-American Petroleum Institute--which I doubt--I feel obliged to give up the chair,” said Fuller, who will become co-chairman of BP Amoco after the merger, which is expected to be complete by year’s end.

Arco has been rumored to be a takeover candidate, but Bowlin said he is not concerned that the top API job might be jinxed.

“I checked on Lee Raymond,” Bowlin said, referring to the Exxon chairman and chief executive who preceded Fuller as API chairman, “and Exxon is still independent.”

*

Nancy Rivera Brooks can be contacted by e-mail at nancy.rivera.brooks@latimes.com or by fax at (213) 237-7837.