Donald F. Santa Jr., a former commissioner with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, will join the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America as an executive vice-president, the association said.
Santa has an extensive background in natural gas and energy issues, beginning with his service as majority counsel to the Senate energy and natural resources committee in the 1980s and early 1990s. During his tenure at FERC, he worked on the passage of the Natural Gas Wellhead Decontrol Act of 1989 and the Energy Policy Act of 1992.
During 1993-97, he served at FERC, working on such major issues as Order 888, which opened electricity transmission access, and the implementation of Order 636, which outlined the restructuring of the US's natural gas pipeline grid. In addition, Santa has worked as an executive at LG&E Energy Corp., Louisville, Ky., and as a partner at the Troutman Sanders law firm.
Another industry association has elected a new chairman and treasurer.
David J. O'Reilly, chairman and CEO of ChevronTexaco Corp., was elected chairman of American Petroleum Institute. Claiborne P. Deming, president and CEO of Murphy Oil Corp., was elected API treasurer. Both are to assume office Jan. 1.
As chairman, O'Reilly also will chair API's 25-member policy committee and 10-member executive committee. O'Reilly has served on API's board since 1995. He served as treasurer in 2002 and as chairman of the organization's downstream committee in 1997.
Upstream moves
Richard Jeffs was named president and CEO of Hong Kong-based exploration and production company Brek Energy Corp. Jeffs succeeds Gregory Pek, who will retire but retain a seat on the company's board. The company also announced it will move its headquarters from Hong Kong to London. "As we move forward with our business plans, Brek's head office needs to be closer to our investors and prospective investors," Pek said.
Jeffs has more than 25 years of experience in the public markets arena.
Richard W. Piacenti has joined Mission Resources Corp. as its senior vice-president and chief financial officer. Piacenti succeeds Johathan M. Clarkson, who has resigned from the Houston-based independent exploration and production company.
Piacenti brings more than 21 years of oil and gas industry experience to Mission, mainly in the reorganization, integration, and management of accounting and finance functions. He joined the company from El Paso Production Co., a unit of Houston-based El Paso Corp., where he served as senior vice-president and chief financial officer. While with El Paso, Piacenti served as vice-president and controller of the production unit and as director, accounting, of its midstream unit.
Before working for El Paso, Piacenti was vice-president and controller of Cornerstone Natural Gas Inc, Dallas.
Downstream moves
Ashland Inc., Covington, Ky., announced that two of its executives have swapped positions for a period of 6 months.
The move—which is designed "to strengthen Ashland's technological expertise"—involves Frances E. Lockwood, senior vice-president, technology, for Valvoline Co., and Donald S. Mueller, vice-president, research and technology innovation, for Ashland Specialty Chemical Co. The exchange became effective Oct. 9.
"This 'brain exchange' will enable us to begin unleashing the creative power hidden within our wholly owned businesses," said Ashland CEO and Pres. James J. O'Brien. The initiative, which is the first of its kind for the company, will be repeated in the future, O'Brien said.
Lockwood was named to her current position in 2001. She oversees chemists and technicians at Valvoline's new product laboratory in Lexington, Ky., as well as in Australia, the Netherlands, and the company's North American packaging plants. Lockwood joined Ashland in 1994. Over the last 25 years, she has served in a variety of R&D, planning, and technical management positions in the oil, automotive, and metalworking industries. In 1996, she assumed responsibility for Valvoline's global products and technical services.
Mueller joined Ashland Chemical in Dublin, Ohio, in 1991 as vice-president, R&D. He started his career in 1973 when he joined Philadelphia-based Rohm & Haas Co., where he held numerous scientific and managerial positions. In 1985, Mueller became a research director for Johnson & Johnson and served as director for J&J Dental Products and Chicopee Nonwovens.
Nova Chemicals, Pittsburgh, Pa., has appointed three vice-presidents.
Martin Pugh has joined Nova as vice-president and managing director, Europe. Most recently, he served as managing director of Staines, UK-based Elementis PLC's rubber division. Before that, Pugh worked for Dow Europe for 21 years. While with Dow, he served as global business director, specialty polyethylenes, and marketing group manager, food packaging plastics. Pugh's responsibilities will include growing the company's European olefins, polyolefins, and styrenics businesses.
Eric Kelusky has been appointed vice-president, Advanced Scairtech Technology (AST) development. In his new role, Kelusky will supervise the development and commercialization of Nova's AST polyethylene products. Kelusky joined Nova in 1994. Prior to this appointment, Kelusky served as vice-president, expandable polystyrene (EPS) and high-performance styrene (HPS) styrenics. Prior to that, Kelusky was research director for the company's polyethylene products. Before joining Nova Chemicals, Kelusky worked for DuPont for 10 years as a polymer research scientist and technology manager.
Rick Salvador has been named vice-president, North American styrenics polymers. Salvador, who most recently served as vice-president, solid polystyrene (SPS), will lead all the commercial responsibilities for EPS, HPS, and SPS. Salvador has been with Nova since 1987. Before joining Nova, he worked for Union Carbide for 18 years.
Other moves
Mark S. Dodson has been appointed CEO of Portland, Ore.-based natural gas distribution company NW Natural Gas Co., effective Jan. 1, 2003. Dodson succeeds Richard G. Reiten, who will remain chairman of NW Natural's board.
Dodson joined NW Natural in 1997 serving as senior vice-president, public affairs, and general counsel. He was appointed to the position of president and chief operating officer in May 2001. During 1980-97, he worked as a partner in the law firm Ater Wynne Hewitt Dodson & Skerrit in Portland, Ore. Prior to that, he worked in the general counsel's office of the US Department of Transportation. Dodson then became special counsel to the Federal Aviation Administrator in Washington, DC.
Following an internal review of its entire Snøhvit LNG scheme, Statoil ASA has announced that it will reorganize that project's management, "with the objective of securing better follow-up of costs and progress," it said.
"The Snøhvit project is Statoil's largest and most complex development project," said Statoil Pres. and CEO Olav Fjell, adding that Statoil remained "deeply committed" to seeing the project through to completion. "The review shows that a reinforcement of the project's management and organization is required," the company said.
Oversight of the project will be transferred from Statoil's Norwegian exploration and production unit to Inge K. Hansen, the company's chief financial officer and executive vice-president. "The project will also intensify follow-up of the Linde Group, which is the main contractor for the gas liquefaction plant at Melkøya in Finnmark county (OGJ Online, July 24, 2002)."
Eugene N. Dubay was appointed senior vice-president and chief operating officer of Semco Energy Gas Co., a unit of Semco Energy Inc., Farmington Hills, Mich. Dubay succeeds Jon Kosht, currently serving as president, who is to retire Oct. 31.
Since 1997, Dubay has served as president of Kansas Services Gas Co., a division of Tulsa-based Oneok Inc. Dubay joined Semco in 1996 as vice-president, corporate development.
During 1981-96, Dubay held positions of increasing responsibility at Southern Union Co. of Austin. In the last 2 years of his tenure with Southern Union, he served as executive vice-president and chief operating officer of Missouri Gas Energy, a division of Southern Union.
