PERSONNEL MOVES AND PROMOTIONS

Jan. 9, 2006
Flint Hills Resources, a subsidiary of Koch Industries Inc., has named Executive Vice-Pres.

Flint Hills names new president, chief executive

Flint Hills Resources, a subsidiary of Koch Industries Inc., has named Executive Vice-Pres., supply and marketing, Brad Razook, as president and chief executive officer.

Razook joined the Koch family of companies in 1985. He has previously served as vice-president of Pine Bend marketing for the Koch Petroleum Group.

In this role, Razook managed the light products business for the 279,300 b/cd Rosemount, Minn., refinery; light products wholesale business in the midcontinent region; and the ethanol businesses.

Flint Hills Resources has begun a $200 million project to add 50,000 b/d of capacity to the Minnesota refinery (OGJ Online, Dec. 29, 2004).

Separately, Flint Hills has named Joe Coco executive vice-president of operations.

Coco succeeds Jim Mahoney, who was promoted to vice-president of operations for Flint Hills’ parent company Koch Industries Inc.

In his current position, Coco will oversee the operations excellence programs for Flint Hills’ refining and petrochemical facilities and terminals.

Previously, he served in several positions at Flint Hills, including vice-president of ventures and refinery manager in Corpus Christi, Tex. He also served as vice-president of global operations for Koch Industries subsidiary Invista, Wichita, Kan.

Upstream moves

C. Scott Wilson has joined United Heritage Corp., Cleburne, Tex., as chief executive officer and president.

With 28 years’ experience, Wilson is to direct company operations following the investment made by Lothian Oil Inc. He held senior energy lending-managerial positions at Western Bank, CIBC World Markets, Wolfden, Sterling Bank, and most recently Mizuho Corporate Bank.

Mark Whitley has joined Range Resources Corp., Fort Worth, as a senior vice-president. He will manage the company’s activities in the Permian basin and East Texas and oversee its operations in US shale gas plays.

Whitley has more than 30 years’ experience, having served with Shell Oil Co., Mitchell Energy & Development Corp., and Quicksilver Resources Corp.

The US unit of Bankers Petroleum Ltd., Calgary, named James M. Hill as vice-president, exploration.

Formerly with Chevron USA Inc.’s Western Region, he will focus on a shale gas exploration play in the Palo Duro basin of West Texas. Hill also will evaluate other unconventional gas targets in the US and elsewhere.

Geocan Energy Inc., Calgary, has appointed Scott Gordon as vice-president, engineering and operations.

Gordon, with more than 22 years of industry and engineering experience, will oversee all aspects of Geocan’s engineering and operations department.

Prior to joining Geocan, Gordan was principal of Integrated Resource Engineering Ltd., a project-management consulting firm. All of Gordon’s staff from IREL also will be joining Geocan.

Before that, Gordon served as operations manager at Petromet Resources Ltd. He previously worked at Enerplus Resources Fund, DPH Engineering Inc., and Westcoast Petroleum Ltd.

Other moves

Kern River Gas Transmission Co. has named Kirk T. Morgan as president to succeed Robert L. Sluder, who retired Jan. 1.

Morgan became vice-president of marketing and regulatory affairs in March 2002. He has worked in the energy industry for more than 28 years.

He began his career in Alaska working on the Trans-Alaska Oil Pipeline, various hydroelectric projects, and offshore oil and gas developments.

Morgan joined Williams, Kern River’s predecessor company, in 1980.

Suez LNG NA Pres. and Chief Executive Rick Grant will swap positions with Regional Manager and Chief Executive of Suez Global LNG Clay Harris, who will in turn become president and chief executive of Suez LNG. Both changes are effective in January.

In his new position, Grant will further develop the Suez LNG’s supply and shipping activities, support its regional LNG projects, and enhance its global positions in the LNG business. Grant joined Suez LNG predecessor Cabot LNG in 1998.

Harris joined Suez Global LNG in March 2002 with nearly 30 years of oil and gas experience, mostly in Indonesia and Asia.