Helmerich & Payne elects new director, makes executive promotions

Helmerich & Payne Inc. has elected Ambassador Francis Rooney as director of the company. Ambassador Rooney returns to the board after serving as the United States Ambassador to the Holy See from 2005 to 2008. He is currently president of Rooney Holdings Inc. In addition, Douglas E. Fears was promoted from vice president to executive vice president and CFO; Steven R. Mackey was promoted from vice president to executive vice president, secretary and general counsel; and Gordon Helm was promoted from controller to vice president and controller. Fears joined the company in 1986 as an internal auditor and has been CFO since 1988. He received a bachelor’s degree at The University of Oklahoma, and an MBA from Harvard Business School. Mackey joined the company in 1986 and has served as vice president and general counsel since 1988. He is a graduate of Oklahoma State University and a graduate of the University of Notre Dame Law School. Helm is a graduate of Oral Roberts University and received an MBA from the Oral Roberts University School of Business. He joined the company in 1991 as an internal auditor and has been controller since 1993. Helmerich & Payne Inc. is primarily a contract drilling company. As of June 5, 2008, the company’s existing fleet included 177 US land rigs, 27 international land rigs, and nine offshore platform rigs.

Standard & Poor’s makes key appointments

Standard & Poor’s has made executive appointments in the areas of risk oversight, criteria management, and quality assurance. Clifford Griep has been named executive managing director, ratings risk management; Mark Adelson as managing director, chief credit officer; and Neri Bukspan as managing director, chief quality officer. Griep previously served as S&P’s chief credit and quality officer. Adelson will also chair the analytics policy board and will join the policy governance group. Adelson joins S&P from Adelson & Jacob Consulting. He holds a JD from the University of Michigan Law School and a bachelor’s degree from Princeton University. S&P has also appointed Tony Angel as executive managing director and head of its Europe, Middle East, and Africa business. Angel was previously firmwide managing partner at Linklaters, where over the past three decades he advised corporations and financial institutions on a variety of transactions. Angel holds a master’s degree from Queens’ College, Cambridge.

Spectraseis names CFO

Spectraseis, a provider of low frequency geophysical solutions to the upstream oil and gas industry, has appointed Vassil Bliznakov as CFO. Bliznakov brings over 10 years of financial experience in the industry to his new role. Bliznakov comes to Spectraseis from Schlumberger, where he was controller for the company’s business in Continental Europe. Spectraseis was established in 2003 and is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland.

Wellpoint Systems makesmanagement change; extends Latin America reach

WellPoint Systems Inc. a provider of software solutions to the energy industry, has appointed Richard D. Slack to the newly created role of COO. Tom Mawhinney, president of WellPoint Systems, will leave the company to become CEO of Integrado Inc., which will extend WellPoint’s reach into Latin America. Slack, president and CEO of recently acquired Bolo Systems Inc., will assume responsibility for WellPoint’s day-to-day operations globally. Concurrently, WellPoint Systems has entered into an exclusive agreement with Integrado, for the supply of sales, marketing, and support services for WellPoint’s financial and operational software in Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean.

Capuano joins as VP,emerging technology at Marathon Oil subsidiary

Marathon Oil Co., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Marathon Oil Corp. has hired Linda A. Capuano, PhD, to the company as vice president, emerging technology. Marathon’s Emerging Technology organization will provide an increased focus on renewable and alternative fuels, energy efficiency, carbon intensity, and carbon capture and sequestration. Capuano previously served as senior vice president, design and engineering services at Solectron Corp. in Milpitas, Calif. Capuano received a bachelor’s degree from State University of New York at Stony Brook; a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder; and a master’s degree and a doctorate from Stanford University.

Lederer elected presidentof Crain, Caton & James

George Lederer Jr. has been elected president of Crain, Caton & James. Lederer practices in the litigation section with a concentration in oil and gas law. He obtained his bachelor’s degree and his JD from the University of Texas. The firm’s energy attorneys handle a wide variety of oil and gas matters.

Knight promotes Sokol to VP of strategy, development

Brian Sokol has been promoted to vice president of strategy and development, domestic and international, for Knight. Sokol has over three decades of experience in fishing services and the oil and gas industry. He attended Nicholls State University. The company is a large, privately-held rental tool business for the oil and gas industry.

Bayer named director of energy, resources policy at the NAM

Alexis J. Bayer has been appointed director of energy and resources policy at the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM). Bayer was previously a legislative assistant for Sen. John Ensign (R-NV) for more than five years, advising him on matters related to energy, trade and foreign affairs. Bayer gradated with a bachelor’s degree from the University of Nevada. She is pursuing a master’s degree at the United States Naval War College. NAM represents small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states.

Medco Energi appoints Young senior VP

Lafayette-based Medco Energi US has promoted John Young to the newly-created position of senior vice president of exploration and development. Young has more than 25 years of engineering and management experience in the oil and gas industry. Young previously served as manager of business development for Medco Energi US. Young earned a bachelor’s degree from Texas Tech University.