You're reading: Deputy Prime Minister Sechin steps down as Rosneft chairman

MOSCOW, April 11 (Reuters) - Russian Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin stepped down as chairman of the board of state-controlled oil company Rosneft on Monday, the company said in a statement.

The resignation, announced at a Rosneft shareholder meeting, comes less than two weeks after President Dmitry Medvedev ordered Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to "initiate" the removal of his deputies and ministers from the board of state companies, including Sechin, the powerful chairman of Russia’s top oil producer. Member of the board Alexander Nekipelov was appointed acting chairman.