Obituary: Christophe de Margerie, CEO of Total

The death of Christophe de Margerie in a plane crash not only robs Total of its charismatic chairman and chief executive, it denies the energy industry one of its most passionate advocates. We are far poorer for his loss.

For all his undeniable wit and charm, his droll humour, intelligence, his bonhomie and eccentricity, his appalling timekeeping, his love of single malt whisky (preferably accompanied by good conversation and in good company), de Margerie was one of the industry's staunchest supporters, and one of its most astute critics.  He died, aged 63, on 20 October when his jet, a Falcon-50, collided with a snow plough during take-off at Moscow's Vnukovo airport. The aircraft subsequently caught fire, killing de Margerie and three crew. Russian and French accident investigators have opened an inquiry into the crash.   De Margerie's untimely death silences a voice that spoke openly - frequently bluntly -