IPAA mourns passing of Suzanne Whitehurst

Suzanne Whitehurst, IPAA’s vice president of crude oil and technology policy lost her courageous battle with cancer. She passed away on Thursday, March 20, 2008. She joined IPAA in January of 2001. Her primary responsibilities included management of the association’s crude oil committee and the safety and security task forces. She organized and implemented IPAA’s efforts supporting federal oil and natural gas research and development. Her commitment to protect the interests of IPAA members in the halls of Congress and throughout the federal agencies was extraordinary. Barry Russell, IPAA president and CEO stated, “It was a great honor to have Suzanne on our team. She is deeply missed by the entire staff here in Washington.”

Mainland Resources fills president, CEO, director posts

Mainland Resources Inc., a Nevada corporation, has elected Mike Newport to join the company as president, CEO, and a director. Newport has nearly 30 years of experience in all phases of oil and gas land management. Newport has spent the last 13 years managing brokers for West Texas, South Texas, East Texas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Alabama, and North Louisiana, as well as performing all land management activities for various operators actively drilling and completing wells in these areas. He received a bachelor’s degree and an MBA from the University of Oklahoma. Additionally, the company has added David Urquhart as a member of the board. Urquhart has over 35 years of experience in all facets of the equipment fabrication and hydrocarbon industries. Prior to founding his own consulting firm, Westhampton Ltd., he served as vice president, Energy Group for Finex Capital Corp. of Calgary. Urquhart received a bachelor’s degree from Dalhousie University and another bachelor’s degree from Nova Scotia Technical College. Mainland Resources is a junior company engaged in the exploration and development of oil and gas resources.

Abbot Group appoints CEO

Holger Temmen has been named CEO of Abbot Group Ltd. and the KCA DEUTAG group of companies. This is a new position created in anticipation of international growth following the takeover of Abbot Group plc by First Reserve. A graduate of Fachhochschule Mûnster in Germany, Temmen joined the DEUTAG group of companies in 1990 as a financial controller. He was appointed to the board of Abbot Group plc in 2005.

Cameron names Krummel VP, controller, CAO

Cameron has named Christopher A. Krummel as vice president, controller, and chief accounting officer. Krummel succeeds Charles M. Sledge, who has been named CFO. Krummel, who joined the company in October 2007, will have overall responsibility for all internal and external accounting functions, including consolidated financial reporting and SEC filings, for Cameron and its subsidiaries. Previously, he was with Enventure Global Technology, serving most recently as CFO. He holds an undergraduate degree from Creighton University and an MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Shell president Hofmeister to retire, Odum takes over

Shell Oil Co.’s president, John D. Hofmeister, will retire June 1, 2008. Marvin E. Odum, currently executive vice president for the Americas for Shell Exploration and Production, will succeed him, while keeping his current operational role. Odum joined Shell as an engineer in 1982 and has held a range of management positions in technical and commercial operations. In his prior assignment, Odum was CEO of InterGen, a global power generation company. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas and an MBA from the University of Houston.

Haddix to lead Structure Software Solutions Center

The Structure Group has appointed Scott Haddix as director of the Software Solutions Center (SSC), which provides ancillary solutions, custom software development, implementation, integration, and support services. Haddix joined The Structure Group in January after 10 years at SunGard Consulting, where he was a partner and founding member of the technology company. Structure’s Software Solutions Center is based in Houston. The Structure Group provides consulting services and business solutions to energy market operators and participants in North America and Europe.

Rex names Pratt VP, exploration manager

Rex Energy Corp. has appointed David Pratt as its vice president and exploration manager and Sean Brake as its Appalachian basin completions manager. Pratt has over 30 years’ experience as a senior geologist working on projects located throughout the US. His most recent private exploration and development experience includes almost nine years with Cabot Oil and Gas working in the Appalachian basin. He obtained his bachelor’s degree from the State University of New York at Albany and his master’s degree from Rice University in Houston. Brake has over 15 years’ experience in the energy industry. His most recent assignment was with Halliburton as a project manager, principal technical professional, and completions engineer. Brake earned his bachelor’s degree from Marietta College.

Nelson joins Caesar Systems as client services manager

Caesar Systems has appointed Jeff Nelson as client services manager to extend the company’s service to upstream oil and gas clients worldwide. Nelson brings 25 years of international energy experience, much of it with Mobil and ExxonMobil, having held a variety of senior level positions. Nelson earned a bachelor’s degree from Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine. He earned a master’s degree from Duke University and later earned an MBA at Southern Methodist University. He completed additional studies at the Chelsea School of Fine Arts in London.

Austin joins RAM Energy as senior VP, CFO

RAM Energy Resources Inc. has hired G. Les Austin as senior vice president and CFO, secretary, and treasurer. Austin previously served as vice president finance and CFO of Matrix Service Co. He received a bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma State University. Additionally, in connection with his planned retirement, John M. Longmire has resigned as CFO. Longmire will remain senior vice president through July 1, 2008, and has agreed to serve as a special consultant through the end of the year. Longmire served as the company’s CFO since the merger with RAM Energy Inc. in May 2006. Prior to that, he served as CFO of RAM Energy since 1994.

Ocean Rig names Mullen as CEO

Ocean Rig has appointed David Mullen as the new CEO. Mullen comes from the position of senior vice president of Transocean Inc. He holds a degree from Trinity College, Dublin, and a master’s degree from the University College of Galway, Ireland.

OMNI taps Recatto to succeed Eckert as president, CEO

OMNI Energy Services Corp. has approved the appointment of Brian J. Recatto as president and CEO, effective July 1, 2008. Recatto has served as the company’s COO since December 2007. He joined the company as vice president in March 2007 as a result of the acquisition of BMJ Industrial Investments LLC and its wholly-owned subsidiary Charles Holston Inc., where he served as its president since 2004. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Louisiana State University. James Eckert, OMNI’s current president, CEO, and chairman intends to retire during 2008 and has agreed to serve as a consultant to OMNI after his retirement.

Kodiak CFO resigns

Kodiak Oil & Gas Corp.’s CFO, James P. Henderson, has resigned to pursue other opportunities with a privately held oil and gas company.

Best Energy Services expands board with Byrd appointment

Houston-based Best Energy Services Inc., a US energy equipment and services provider, has expanded its board with the election of James Byrd as a new independent member. Byrd is the designated board appointee of CoreFund LP, a company shareholder and lender who nominated Byrd in accordance with the terms and conditions of its recent debt and equity investments in the company. In 1998, Byrd formed Vanguard Capital LLC, a privately held equity firm that he continues to manage today. In 2004, he founded OE Source LC, an auto parts importer and distributor, and served as managing director. Byrd earned a bachelor’s degree from Florida State University and a JD from the FSU College of Law.

Sullivan joins Northern Offshore as controller

Northern Offshore Ltd. has named H. Gary Sullivan as company controller. Prior to joining Northern Offshore, Sullivan spent more than 24 years in the energy industry, primarily with Transocean Inc. and predecessor companies. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas.

Shivji leaves PetroGlobe, James named interim CFO

PetroGlobe’s CFO, Arif Shivji, has left to pursue other interests. Jason James, CEO on an interim basis, will serve as CFO until a permanent replacement is found.

New appointments at Douglas-Westwood

Andrew Reid has been appointed managing director of the energy business analysts Douglas-Westwood Ltd. He previously served as operations director. Company founder John Westwood will assume the role of executive chairman.

Two officers resign at Rancher Energy

Two officers of Rancher Energy Corp. have resigned. John Dobitz, senior vice president of engineering, and Andy Casazza, COO, have resigned to pursue other professional activities.

Jeff Skelly named COO of GEODynamics

Jeff Skelly was recently named COO for GEODynamics Inc., a global firm focused on engineered perforating solutions for the upstream oil and gas sector. Before this appointment, he was president of Expro Americas Inc. Prior to Expro, he was with Halliburton holding various senior management positions. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Florida Tech.

Teton Energy names Godfrey VP, operations

Teton Energy Corp. has appointed Steve Godfrey to the position of vice president of operations. Godfrey will be responsible for all drilling, production, and completion operations for Teton. Godfrey has over 27 years of oil and gas experience and had worked for Forest Oil since 2001 serving in various capacities including director of drilling. He has an MBA from the University of Southern California and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame.

IDM Group names Krablin new CFO

IDM Group, designers and manufacturers of drilling systems for the international energy industry, has named Steve Krablin as executive vice president and CFO. Krablin has over 25 years of experience as a financial executive in the international energy service industry, most recently as senior vice president and CFO of National Oilwell Varco. He is a graduate of the University of Arkansas.

Stone Energy makes board appointment

Stone Energy Corp. has named Donald E. Powell as a new board member. As a Class I director, Powell’s term will expire on the date of the Annual Meeting of Shareholders in 2009. He most recently served as the federal coordinator of Gulf Coast Rebuilding from November 2005 until March 2008. Stone Energy is an independent oil and natural gas company headquartered in Lafayette, La.

Oilexco appoints Cannon as non-executive director

Anne Marie Cannon has been elected as a non-executive director to the board of Oilexco Inc. Cannon is currently a senior advisor to Morgan Stanley’s investment banking energy team, where she has worked since 2000. She has over 25 years’ experience in the industry.

Gran Tierra changes direction, Kirton on board

Nadine Smith has resigned from the board of Gran Tierra Energy Inc., a company focused on oil exploration and production in South America. Smith recently became the chair of the board of La Cortez Energy Inc. Nick Kirton has joined the board of Gran Tierra Energy and will also assume the role of chairman of the audit committee. Kirton is retired after a 38 year career at KPMG.