CNRL’S Markin never lost common touch

Calgary – There were shock waves rippling through the oilpatch late Monday afternoon as news trickled out Allan Markin was stepping down as cochairman of Canadian Natural Resources Ltd., a company he has been associated with since 1988.

Unlike other recent transitions by senior oilpatch executives, this impending shift had not been telegraphed in any way.

The fact CNRL’S board of directors and management had no idea Markin was about to pull the plug on a storied career with the company only heightened speculation.

According to those around him, however, Markin’s move has everything to do with wanting to shift gears and focus more of his time and energy on Pure North S’energy Foundation — a health and wellness initiative he started several years ago as a result of his own personal journey years earlier.

Malkin is the latest in a string of oilpatch executives to step aside in the last few years — the third in 2012 alone. His departure marks an end to a remarkable career in which he was instrumental not just in stewarding two companies to success but in mentoring dozens of individuals within the energy sector and the financial community.

As a young stockbroker from Toronto who didn’t know much about the oilpatch, Firstenergy Capital’s chairman Jim Davidson recalls how Markin took an interest in him, and pushed him to learn more about the sector.

“He admonished me for not knowing enough about the energy business and pushed me to do more,” said Davidson, who went on to take engineering and geology courses to build up his knowledge base.

But that wasn’t enough. Markin would then have Davidson in his office and, with the help of a chalkboard, give him more lessons on geological formations, how different formations interacted and the intricacies of the drilling techniques.

The knowledge, says Davidson, was hugely beneficial in his role as a stock broker because it meant he could ask better questions of the companies he was interested in. It also gave him the credibility to help Markin raise money for Poco Petroleums and later, Canadian Natural Resources.

Reflecting on his relationship with Markin all through the years, Davidson says Markin’s hallmark has been the ability to see the potential in people and mentor them so they could achieve what they are capable of.

“Al would spend the time to nurture people, but he was also able to push you in a way that you didn’t want to disappoint him,” said Davidson.

Another business colleague and golfing pal remembers coming to Markin and telling him he was “packaged out” from his employer. Instead of getting a warm and fuzzy response, Markin told him he needed to go back and find out why he was let go. It was a way of teaching the young man the easy route of simply walking away and not asking questions was the wrong approach.

“Allan has always been interested in people, their personal development, their health. … He’s always been very wellmeaning,” said Michael Tims, chairman of investment firm Peters & Co.

Margin was recently mentioned by Progressive Conservative Leader Alison Redford as being an important mentor and teacher as she sought to learn more about Alberta’s energy sector following her election to the legislature in 2008.

From an operating perspective, much of what Markin learned came from his experience at Merland Explorations, where he was until jumping to run Poco in 1981.

Merland, which was headed up by the late Bob Dixon, has long been heralded as the pioneer company that pursued an operating philosophy of having 100 per cent working interests in assets, controlling the associated infrastructure and keeping costs as low as possible.

“Al was one of the key proponents of what we take as basic operating principles related to running an oil and gas company,” said Tims, adding Clayton Woitas as another individual who also pursued a similar approach at Renaissance Energy.

According to Davidson, Markin is the guy who has a talent to connect with anyone, anywhere — and on his or her level.

“He has the ability to walk with kings but not lose the common touch,” said Davidson. “Al’s tireless routine of going to the field to ‘touch the steel,’ and connect CNRL’S (operations) to the head office, was very important in a company with 5,000 people.”

But it’s not just the energy sector where he has had an impact.

Markin set a strong example for philanthropy in Calgary, with his involvement extending into the areas of social services, health and wellness, the arts and education.

“Al really understands the root causes of social issues and has supported a wide range of charities in the social services area throughout the city. He has supported the counselling work that we do, and, more specifically the change in focus toward outcomes and impact that has helped us better serve our clients and the community,” said Robbie Babinswagner, CEO of the Calgary Counselling Centre.

Asked once where the grounding for his community commitment came from, Markin smiled and simply said he grew up in the Doukhobor community, where “everyone looked after one another.”