Personnel moves and promotions

May 1, 2000
Former Amoco Corp. executive Robert Sheppard has taken over the reins of the recently embattled Sidanko. Named president, he previously served as Sidanko executive vice-president.

Former Amoco Corp. executive Robert Sheppard has taken over the reins of the recently embattled Sidanko. Named president, he previously served as Sidanko executive vice-president. Sheppard replaces Boris Volkov, who vacated the post in February 1999. Sheppard had worked for Amoco, now a part of BP Amoco PLC, and its related enterprises for the previous 18 years. External manager Sergei Kitin served as interim president until the company's bankruptcy settlement was concluded with Moscow authorities and creditors in January.

Sidanko had been at the heart of a dispute between Sidanko shareholder BP Amoco-and Russian major Tyumen Oil Co. (TNK) that began last year when TNK seized two operating units from Sidanko during a hotly contested bankruptcy auction involving the insolvent company. The two firms resolved their dispute last month, which in turn ended US government opposition to loans backing use of US technology in two major Russian projects (OGJ, Apr. 10, 2000, p. 38).

In other personnel news, Alan L. Sylvester has been named vice-president, North American lubricants, for Citgo Petroleum Corp., Tulsa. He was general manager, terminal facilities and operations. Prior positions that Sylvester held with Citgo include general manager, lubricant operations supply and distribution; general manager, planning and performance analysis; and general manager, product distribution and inventory control.

Mike Azancot has been appointed senior vice-president, exploration and production, of Hurricane Hydrocarbons Ltd., Calgary. He has 23 years' experience in the oil and gas industry, mainly internationally.

Robert C. Millspaugh Jr. has been named geoscience director of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Tulsa. He joined AAPG in 1986 after a career with Cities Service Co. and, after its acquisition, with Cities parent Occidental Petroleum Corp. Millspaugh previously was education manager for AAPG.

Charles Valceschini has been named president of American Energy Group Ltd. (AEG), Houston. He replaces Bradley J. Simmons, who resigned. Valceschini was president of Hycarbex-American Energy, a subsidiary of AEG.

A.T. (Toby) Carleton, an independent geologist in Midland, Tex., has been elected president of the Society of Independent Professional Earth Scientists, Dallas. Other newly elected officers include vice-president, Scott A. Wainwright, New Orleans; and vice-president of natural resources, Roger L. Martin, Wichita.