An Interview with Phillip D. Farr

Abstract

As Director of Management Information Services, Phillip D. Farr is responsible for the information technology (IT) function at American Petrofina, Inc. (FINA). His responsibilities include long-term planning, as well as day-to-day operations. FINA (AMEX: FI) is a Dallas-based company engaged in crude oil and natural gas exploration and production; petroleum products refining, marketing, and transportation; as well as the manufacturing and marketing of petrochemicals and plastics. Organized in 1956, FINA is part of an international group of companies affiliated with Petrofina S.A. headquartered in Brussels, Belgium. In 1995 FINA had revenues over $3.6 billion, employed nearly 2700 people, and had over 2700 company-branded service stations.Mr. Farr has more than 25 years experience in the information systems (IS) field and 9 years in his present position. He has a degree in mathematics and physics from East Texas State University and has done graduate work at Harvard Business School and the University of Virginia. He is a member of the Society for Information Management (SIM), the Data Processing Management Association (DPMA), and the Greater Dallas Chamber of Commerce. He is a past chair of the Information Systems Committee of the American Petroleum Institute and of the Advisory Board of the Business Computer Information Systems Department at the University of North Texas.