A.J. Best has been named president and CEO of Pure Resources Inc., a unit of Unocal Corp. The position was created following Unocal's move to acquire Pure Resources earlier this year (OGJ Online, Aug. 27, 2002).
Best has 23 years of experience in the energy industry. Before working most recently in his own consulting practice, Best served as president of ARCO Latin America. During his career with ARCO, Best held a number of other positions within the company, including president of ARCO Permian; vice-president, external affairs, for ARCO Alaska; and Prudhoe Bay field manager.
Best will oversee all of Unocal's Permian and San Juan producing assets as well as some onshore assets currently being managed by Unocal's gulf region USA business unit.
Separately, Unocal has named John W. Creighton Jr. to the position of vice-chairman.
Creighton, who served as nonexecutive chairman during 2001, has had a seat on Unocal's board since 1995. He resigned as Unocal's chairman when he was appointed interim chairman of United Airlines's parent firm UAL Corp.
Creighton retired as president and CEO of Washington state-based forest products firm Weyerhaeuser Co.
Upstream moves
Houston-based Burlington Resources Inc. has appointed two of its own to executive-level positions.
Randy L. Limbacher has been named executive vice-president and chief operating officer and Steven J. Shapiro has been named executive vice-president in addition to his current role as chief financial officer. Both Limbacher and Shapiro previously were senior vice-presidents.
Limbacher had served as senior vice-president since 2000, following his 1998 appointment as president of Burlington Resources North America and previous service as vice-president, regional operations, in the San Juan and Gulf Coast divisions. He joined Burlington in 1985.
Shapiro joined Burlington Resources in 2000 as senior vice-president and chief financial officer. Before that, he served as senior vice-president, chief financial officer, and director at Houston-based Vastar Resources Inc. Previously, he spent 16 years with ARCO, beginning as a planning analyst and later holding a variety of executive positions in that company's coal and minerals businesses.
Irving, Tex.-based Magnum Hunter Resources Inc. has promoted two senior executives.
Richard R. Frazier was promoted to executive vice-president and chief operating officer of the company. Frazier will retain his responsibilities and title of president and chief operating officer of Magnum Hunter Production Inc. and Gruy Petroleum Management Co., both wholly owned Magnum Hunter units.
Morgan F. Johnston was promoted to senior vice-president, general counsel and secretary. Previously, Johnston served in a similar capacity at the vice-presidential level.
Frazier served in his current position since January 1994. During 1983-93, Frazier served as executive vice-president, exploration and production, for Edisto Resources Corp., Dallas. During 1972-76, he worked as district production superintendent and petroleum engineer with Midland, Tex.-based HNG Oil Co. (now EOG Resources Inc., Houston).
Frazier started his career as a petroleum engineer in 1968 with Amerada Hess Corp. He worked for the company until 1972.
Johnston served in his present position since April 1997 and has served as the company's secretary since May 1996. During May 1996 to April 1997, Johnston was in private practice as a sole practitioner, specializing in corporate and securities law. During 1994 to mid-1996, Johnston served as general counsel for Millennia Inc. and Digital Communications Technology Corp. and as securities counsel for Motel 6 LP.
David L. Stover has been named vice-president, business development, for Noble Energy Inc., Houston. Stover, who has 23 years of experience in the oil and gas industry, most recently served as vice-president, Gulf of Mexico shelf, with BP PLC.
Before joining BP, Stover worked for Vastar Resources, managing offshore and onshore business units. He also worked for BP predecessor ARCO, where he held several engineering, operations, and business development positions.
Other moves
Henry M. Kuchta has been named president of Old Greenwich, Conn.-based Premcor Inc. Most recently, Kuchta served as the company's executive vice-president, refining, and as chief operating officer. He will retain his role as chief operating officer. Kuchta's appointment becomes effective Jan. 1, 2003.
Thomas D. O'Malley, currently chairman, CEO, and president of Premcor, will remain as chairman and CEO. Kuchta joined the company in April.