BP PLC has named Starlee Sykes as the company's future regional president for the Gulf of Mexico and Canada. Sykes, currently vice president for BP's global projects organization for offshore projects, will take over the role on Feb. 1 from Richard Morrison, who is retiring after 37 years with BP. She will remain based in Houston. As part of her new role, Sykes will serve as chairman of BP Exploration & Production Inc. and will be a member of BP America Inc.'s board of directors. She also will serve on the Center for Offshore Safety's board of directors and on the industry advisory board for Texas A&M University's department of petroleum engineering.