Ian Lundin, president of Swedish oil and gas exploration company Lundin Petroleum AB, also has been named chairman of the company. Lundin succeeds Adolf Lundin, who is relinquishing his top spot after serving in the position for 22 years.
Additionally, Ashley Heppenstall has been appointed as Lundin Petroleum's managing director and CEO.
Adolf Lundin noted, "I believe it is time to pass the torch to a younger generation. Ian Lundin, who has been president for 13 years, has proven himself capable of filling the role of chairman and of driving the company to continued success."
Meanwhile, Stephen J. Savidant has been named president and CEO of Canadian 88 Energy Corp., Calgary.
Savidant's appointment comes after an extensive search process by the company's board started late last year. Most recently, Savidant served as president and CEO of Canadian Hunter Exploration Ltd., also of Calgary.
George W. Watson was serving as Canadian 88's acting president and CEO while the company searched for new leadership. Savidant will assume his new role with the company immediately.
Separately, Stephen B. Soules has been appointed senior vice-president, finance, and chief financial officer of Canadian 88, also effective immediately. Soules, who is Canadian Hunter's former chief financial officer, succeeds Donald R. Gardner, who has retired.
Upstream moves
Bob D. Brady Jr. has joined Double Eagle Petroleum Co., Casper, Wyo., as vice-president, engineering and operations.
Brady comes to Double Eagle with 13 years of experience in coalbed methane development. Most recently, he served as operations manager for the CBM interests in the Powder River basin owned by Prima Oil & Gas Co., a unit of Prima Energy Corp., Denver. Prior to working for Prima, Brady served as vice-president, engineering and operations, for Evergreen Operating Corp., a unit of Evergreen Resources Inc., Denver.
Brady has 24 years experience in the oil and natural gas industry, holding various management, engineering, consulting, and operational positions at MDU Resources Group Inc. unit WBI Holdings Inc., Pennzoil Co., Diamond M. Drilling Co., and Baker & Taylor Drilling Co. He also has done exploration drilling consulting for Conoco Angola Ltd., Mobil North Sea Ltd., and Milan-based Montedison SPA.
Downstream moves
David Pirret, currently executive vice-president, global businesses, for Shell International Petroleum Co. Ltd., was named vice-president, lubricants, for Shell Oil Products US, effective June 1.
In his new position, Pirret will oversee the planning process to combine the businesses of Shell and Pennzoil-Quaker State Co., which was acquired by Shell earlier this year (OGJ, Apr. 1, 2002, p. 34). Pending certain approvals, the transaction is expected to be completed in the second half.
Pirret will lead the new business, which will involve transferring the unit into a global structure. "Given the growing importance of lubricants to the Shell family of companies, Shell has decided to develop a global lubricants business structure by January 2004 along lines similar to the successful Shell models already established in aviation, marine products, and LPG," Shell said.
Pirret joined Shell in 1974 and has held several sales and marketing positions with other Shell units, including Shell Chemicals, Shell Cyprus Trading Co. Ltd., Shell Lubricants, Shell Brasil SA, Shell UK Ltd., and Shell International Petroleum Ltd. Most recently, he served as managing director, Shell Lubricants UK.
Kevin DeNicola will become senior vice-president and chief financial officer of Lyondell Chemical Co., Houston, effective June 30. DeNicola will succeed Robert Blakely, who will retire.
Currently, DeNicola serves as vice-president, corporate development, for the company. He joined the company in 1990 and has held management positions in corporate planning, business management, and investor relations.
DeNicola started his career with Monsanto Co., St. Louis, and worked with Ernst & Young LP prior to joining Lyondell.
Blakely joined Lyondell as chief financial officer in 1999. Prior to that, he served as executive vice-president and chief financial officer for Tenneco Inc.
Separately, Eric Silva has been named vice-president, information technology, for Lyondell Chemical. Silva succeeds Robert Tolbert, who retired June 1.
Most recently, Silva served as director, human resource services, for the company. He joined Lyondell in 1985 and has held a variety of positions in accounting, treasury, and human resources.
Other moves
Stephen W. Naeve has been named president and chief operating officer of Reliant Resources Inc., a unit of Reliant Energy Inc., Houston. Most recently, Naeve served as executive vice-president and chief financial officer for Reliant Resources.
Naeve has been with Reliant Energy for nearly 30 years, starting his career with the company's predecessor Houston Lighting & Power Co. in 1972. During that time, Naeve has served in leadership positions in numerous areas of the company including environmental licensing, power plant engineering and construction, fuel procurement, and strategic planning. Naeve was named to his current position in 1996.
In addition to overseeing the company's operations, he will be directly responsible for Reliant's wholesale group activities. The company said it would conduct an external search for a new chief financial officer. In the interim, Rex Clevenger, currently the company's senior vice-president, finance, will fulfill the duties of CFO.
Separately, the company also announced that both Joe Bob Perkins, executive vice-president and group president, and Shahid Malik, president, trading, for the company's wholesale group, have resigned to pursue other interests.
Stephen A. Sonnenberg has been named president-elect by the membership of the Tulsa-based American Association of Petroleum Geologists. He will serve as AAPG president in 2003-04. Currently, Sonnenberg serves as manager of DJ Sub-Business Unit for EnCana Energy Resources Inc., a unit of EnCana Corp., Calgary.
Separately, Peter M. Lloyd has been named vice-president of the organization. Presently, Lloyd serves as business development director in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, for Schlumberger Ltd.'s Network of Excellence in Training, or NexT. Also, Paul Weimer has been named AAPG treasurer. Presently, Weimer works for the University of Colorado, Boulder, Colo., and is a consulting geologist.
Both Lloyd and Weimer will assume their new positions on July 1.
The National Petrochemical & Refiners Association has promoted Jeffery Hazle to the position of technical director. Hazle, who has been with NPRA for 7 years, currently serves as director, lubes, waxes, and maintenance programs. He brings more than 22 years of experience in the industry.
Previously, Hazle worked for Lyondell Chemical predecessor ARCO Chemical. In his new position, Hazle will oversee the association's technical operations, including its technical meetings.