(Yicai) May 7 -- China is investigating a former senior executive at China National Offshore Oil Corporation, one of the country's three big oil and natrual gas companies, on suspicion of serious disciplinary and legal violations.

The executive is Qi Meisheng, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, the country’s anti-corruption watchdog, announced yesterday. Qi, who worked at Beijing-based CNOOC for nearly 33 years, was put under investigation in March.

Born in 1968, Qi joined the company after graduating from China University of Petroleum (East China) with a degree in drilling engineering. He succeeded Li Yong as president and chief executive officer of listed arm China Oilfield Services in 2016 and was named chairman of CNOOC’s gas and power unit last September. He served concurrently as CNOOC’s deputy chief economist.

Between 2014 and 2021, Qi received nearly CNY7.8 million (USD1.1 million) in salary, averaging CNY970,000 (USD13,445) a year. During his tenure at China Oilfield Services from 2017 to 2020, he received an average remuneration of more than CNY1 million a year, earning CNY1.5 million in 2020. After quitting as its chairman and CEO in April 2021, his salary dropped to CNY331,400.

Editor: Futura Costaglione