Calgary-based oil giant Suncor Energy announced Friday that its chief executive Mark Little is stepping down, stating the move was "effective immediately."
The company said its board and Little mutually agreed he would depart as president and CEO and resign from the board. Suncor's executive vice-president of downstream operations, Kris Smith, has been named interim CEO.
The development comes a day after Occupational Health and Safety announced it is investigating the death of a 26-year-old contractor who was struck by equipment at Suncor's Base Mine near Fort McMurray, Alta.
Thursday's death was the fifth workplace fatality at a Suncor site in Alberta since 2021.
Suncor did not mention the incidents in its news release Friday but did discuss safety as a priority at the company.