Several US independent exploration and production companies have recently named new top executives to their helms.
Charles R. Williamson has been named chairman of Unocal Corp. He assumed the role of the company's CEO at the beginning of this year and will continue in that capacity.
Williamson succeeds John W. Creighton Jr., who will resign as a nonexecutive chairman but will continue as a director.
Williamson joined Unocal in 1977 and spent his career in E&P, holding senior positions of increasing responsibility in the UK, the Netherlands, and Thailand.
Prior to being named CEO, Williamson served as executive vice-president, international energy operations (OGJ, Jan. 8, 2001, p. 28).
James L. Payne has been named chairman, president, and CEO of Houston-based Nuevo Energy Co. Payne replaces Philip A. Gobe, who had been the company's interim president and CEO following the resignation earlier this year of Doug Foshee, former chairman, president, and CEO (OGJ, May 14, 2001, p. 42). Gobe will resume his former position as the company's chief operating officer.
Before joining Nuevo, Payne served as vice-chairman of Oklahoma City-based Devon Energy Corp. from September 2000 to January 2001. Before Devon's acquisition of Houston-based Santa Fe Snyder Corp., Payne served as chairman and CEO of that firm.
Before the May 1999 merger with Snyder Oil Corp., Payne served as chairman and CEO of Santa Fe Energy Resources since 1990. During his 17-year career with Santa Fe, he served as president and CEO during 1986-99 and senior vice-president, exploration and land, during 1982-86. During 1959-82, Payne held various US and international exploration and management positions with Chevron Oil Corp.
Peter A. Dea has been named president, CEO, and a director of Western Gas Resources Inc., Denver, effective Nov. 1. Most recently, Dea served as chairman and CEO of Barrett Resources Corp., also of Denver. He held other executive positions since joining Barrett in 1994, including executive vice-president, exploration.
Prior to joining Barrett, Dea served as president of Nautilus Oil & Gas Co. and held various management and geological positions for Exxon Co. USA.
Lanny F. Outlaw, Western Gas's current president and CEO, has retired from that position effective Oct. 31 but will continue as a director.
Separately, Western Gas promoted William J. Krysiak to chief financial officer. Krysiak joined Western Gas in 1985 and has served as vice-president, finance, since September 1993; controller during 1990-93; and in various other management positions in accounting and tax since joining the company.
John T. Raymond has been named to the position of president and chief operating officer of Houston-based Plains Resources Inc. Most recently, Raymond served as executive vice-president and COO of the firm.
Downstream moves
Larry M. Echelberger has been appointed senior vice-president, refining, for Marathon Ashland Petroleum LLC (MAP), succeeding refining Executive Vice-Pres. Manfred Spindler, who retired Nov. 1 after completing more than 35 years of service.
Echelberger joined Marathon Oil Co. as a research scientist in Littleton, Colo., in 1967 and was appointed manager of the Eastern pipeline division in 1988, manager of the Michigan refining division in 1989, and manager of the Louisiana refining division in 1995.
Spindler joined Marathon Oil Co. in 1966as a process engineer at the company's former refinery in Burghausen, Germany, and held various management positions there and in the US before being appointed vice-president of refining in 1992. In 1998, he assumed the position of senior vice-president, refining, for MAP, and in 2001 he was named to his current position.
Herbert A. Fox Jr. has been promoted to executive vice-president, worldwide downstream operations, of Murphy Oil Corp. effective Nov. 1. Fox joined Murphy Oil in 1969 and has held a number of positions within the company. Most recently, he served as vice-president, worldwide downstream operations, and president of the company's US downstream subsidiary, Murphy Oil USA Inc.
W. Michael Hulse has been named president of Murphy Oil USA. Most recently, Hulse served as president of Murphy Eastern Oil Co., Murphy's UK downstream subsidiary. Hulse, who joined Murphy Oil in 1990, will assume responsibility for all US-based downstream activities.
Murphy Eastern Oil's current senior vice-president, Stephen R. Wylie, has been promoted to president of that Murphy Oil subsidiary. Wylie will be responsible for all UK-based downstream activities. He joined Murphy Oil in 1987.