MOSCOW, Aug 30 (Reuters) - Igor Sechin, the chief executiveof Russia's top oil producer Rosneft, has increasedhis stake in the company to $65 million just a week after it wasfirst disclosed that he had bought stock.
The state-controlled oil major said in a filing that Sechinhad upped his shareholding to 0.0849 percent from an initialpurchase of 0.0075 percent that was paid for out of his annualbonus.
"The board of directors (has) recommended that top managersshould spend their annual bonuses to acquire shares of thecompany," Sechin said in a statement. "I think this programmecan be extended through both personal funds and borrowings."
It is most unusual in President Vladimir Putin's Russia forofficials or executives at state-controlled corporations todeclare such large financial interests, an indication thatSechin continues to enjoy extraordinary influence.
Sechin, who last year left a senior government post to takethe helm at Rosneft, has exerted decisive control over strategysince he was first appointed the company's chairman, anon-executive role, in 2004.
Under the 52-year-old's leadership Rosneft has become theworld's largest listed oil company by output. Its market valueof $76.9 billion has grown by nearly 7 percent since the firstnews that he had bought stock.
British oil major BP owns nearly 20 percent ofRosneft, acquired through the sale this year of its stake in oilventure TNK-BP. The state owns 69.5 percent through Rosneftegaz,a holding company that is chaired by Sechin.