Praxair has announced that Larry McVay, retired chief operating officer of TNK-BP Holding, a BP joint venture in Russia, has been elected to the board of directors of the company, effective January 1, 2008.

Mr McVay’s election brings the total number of Praxair directors to 11, 10 of whom are independent.

As chief operating officer at TNK-BP Holding, Mr McVay, provided executive leadership for upstream and downstream operations, oil field services, technology and supply chain management.

From 2000 to 2003, McVay served as technology vice president and vice president of health, safety and environment for the exploration and production sector of BP.