El Paso cuts number of senior executives, expects to name CEO this summer

June 23, 2003
El Paso Corp. has reduced the number of executive officers to six, and the company plans to name a CEO this summer.


By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, June 23 -- El Paso Corp. has reduced the number of executive officers to six, and the company plans to name a CEO this summer.

Ronald L. Kuehn, chairman and interim CEO, said the CEO search has been narrowed to five finalists, including three current CEOs and one chief operating officer of energy companies.

Last week, El Paso shareholders narrowly voted to retain its incumbent board of directions despite a proxy battle. Kuehn said progress on naming a CEO had awaited the end of the proxy fight.

Meanwhile, executive officers of the company are Robert W. Baker, president, El Paso Merchant Energy; Rodney D. Erskine, president, El Paso Production Co.; Peggy A. Heeg, general counsel; Robert G. Phillips, president, El Paso Field Services; D. Dwight Scott, chief financial officer; and John W. Somerhalder II, president, El Paso Pipeline Group.

Robert Baker became responsible for the trading and petroleum businesses in addition to his responsibilities as president of El Paso Global Power.

Executives who left the company were H. Brent Austin, president and chief operating officer, Greg G. Jenkins, president of El Paso's petroleum and LNG businesses, and Clark C. Smith, president of El Paso's trading operations.

David E. Zerhusen was named senior vice-president and deputy general counsel for the company. El Paso eliminated the positions of president and chief operating officer and executive vice-president, administration.