Ballentine joins Burleson Cooke

Robert S. Ballentine has joined Burleson Cooke LLP as a partner and will concentrate his practice in the areas of commercial litigation and oil and gas law.
Nov. 1, 2009
11 min read

El Paso shuffles executive committee

El Paso Corp. has made changes to its executive committee. D. Mark Leland, currently executive vice president and CFO, will become executive vice president and president of the Midstream Group. He has 15 years of midstream experience and was the COO of GulfTerra Energy Partners LP, which was El Paso's former midstream master limited partnership. John R. Sult, currently senior vice president and CAO, will become senior vice president and CFO. He will remain CFO of the general partner for El Paso Pipeline Partners LP. He will also be a new member of the executive committee. Dane E. Whitehead, currently senior vice president and CFO, El Paso Exploration & Production Co., will become senior vice president strategy and enterprise business development. He will also be a new member of the executive committee. Susan B. Ortenstone, currently senior vice president, human resources and administration, will become senior vice president and CAO.

Morris brings experience to Ridgewood Energy

Ridgewood Energy, an energy private equity firm, has named Joe Morris vice president, exploration. With over 30 years of experience, Morris will be responsible for shaping and delivering Ridgewood's exploration strategy for the Gulf of Mexico. He previously spent eight years with BP. Morris holds a bachelor's and a master's degree from Texas A&M University.

Chevron names new chairman, CEO; as O'Reilly plans to retire after 41 years

Chevron Corp. has elected John S. Watson, chairman of the board and CEO, effective Dec. 31, 2009. Watson, who is currently vice chairman, succeeds David J. O'Reilly, who will retire from the company and its board after a distinguished 41-year career, including 10 years as chairman and CEO. Watson earned a bachelor's degree from the University of California at Davis and an MBA from the University of Chicago. He has held positions of increasing responsibility since he started his 29 year career with Chevron. He was named vice chairman in April 2009. George L. Kirkland was elected vice chairman, succeeding Watson in that capacity. As vice chairman and executive vice president of Upstream and Gas, Kirkland will retain responsibility for overseeing Chevron's global exploration and production activities. Kirkland has served in numerous leadership positions over the course of his 35-year career with the company. He assumed his current role in January 2005. The retiring O'Reilly began his career at Chevron in 1968 after graduating from University College in Dublin, Ireland. He held a variety of senior-level positions before becoming CEO in 2000. Since then, the company has increased its production over 60%, merged with Texaco, and acquired Unocal. "Leading this company and its outstanding people for the past 10 years has been one of the greatest privileges of my life," said O'Reilly.

TransGlobe names Guidry fifth independent director

Calgary-based oil and gas exploration and development company TransGlobe Energy Corp. has named Gary S. Guidry to its board of directors. Guidry is the fifth independent director of TransGlobe. Guidry brings over 30 years of experience in the oil and gas industry. He was recently appointed president and CEO of a new subsidiary company of Sprott Resource Corp. that will focus on international development projects. TransGlobe Energy is focused on the Middle East/North Africa region with production operations in the Arab Republic of Egypt and the Republic of Yemen.

Peek to resign as CIT CEO

Jeffrey M. Peek will resign as chairman and CEO of New York-based CIT Group, a provider of financing to small businesses and middle market companies, effective December 31, 2009. The board is forming a committee to oversee the recruitment process and ensure a smooth leadership transition.

Restrepo to succeed Dorman as CFO at Smith International

Margaret Dorman, the executive vice president, treasurer, and CFO of Smith International is retiring. She has served the company as CFO since May 1999. William Restrepo has been named CFO and treasurer. He has 24 years of experience in the oilfield services sector and was most recently the CFO, executive vice president, and secretary of Seitel, a provider of seismic data to the North American oil and gas industry. From 1985 to 2005, he held various financial and operational positions at Schlumberger. William has bachelor degrees and an MBA from Cornell University. Additionally, the company has named Mike Pearce, previously president of Smith Technologies, executive vice president strategy implementation. In this newly created position, Pearce will focus on the identification, selection and negotiation of potential acquisitions and joint ventures outside of North America. Norman Mckay, previously president Eastern Hemisphere of Exterran, has been named president of Smith Technologies. Mckay holds a degree from Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh.

McCarver joins energy practice of Texas Capital Bank

Texas Capital Bank has added to its energy lending practice. David McCarver has joined the bank as vice president and relationship manager. McCarver previously served as a vice president at Guaranty Bank. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Houston.

Schouest gains additional role at BNP Paribas

BNP Paribas Fortis has added Head of Oil & Gas for BNP Paribas Fortis, Americas to Bart Schouest's existing responsibilities as Head of BNP Paribas' Oil and Gas business, Americas. Schouest joined the Houston office of BNP Paribas in 1989 and was a founding member of the bank's energy group. Prior to joining BNP Paribas, Schouest spent roughly seven years with Texas Commerce Bank, with responsibility for oil and gas financings, leverage capitalization transactions, and structured credit activities.

Alliance Engineering taps Hugo Lunde president

Alliance Engineering a provider of offshore and onshore engineering consulting services, has appointed Edmund-Hugo Lunde president. Lunde will be responsible for the company's operations, long-term strategic growth plans, safety performance and customer delivery. Former president Norb Roobaert will transition to the role of chairman. Lunde has been with Alliance since 1996, and most recently served as COO. He has 28 years of industry experience. Roobaert has been Alliance's president since founding the company in 1993.

Magnum Hunter Resources strengthens management

Magnum Hunter Resources has made several management additions in the company's exploration, administration, legal and finance departments. H.C. "Kip" Ferguson III has been appointed executive vice president of exploration. Ferguson holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Texas in Austin and has 16 years of experience in the industry. Brian Burgher has been appointed vice president of land. He has 25 years of experience in the energy industry. Burgher attended both Baylor University and the University of Houston. Donald Kirkendall has been appointed senior vice president of product marketing and administration. He brings more than 25 years of energy experience to the company. He received his bachelor's degree from Southwest Texas State University. David Lipp has been promoted to vice president of business development and legal. He has been with the company for two years, working in the finance, treasury, accounting and legal departments. Lipp received a bachelor's degree and a master's degree from Tulane University. He received his JD from the University of Houston Law Center.

TPH Partners adds Deming as senior advisor

Claiborne P. Deming has joined Houston-based TPH Partners, an energy middle-market private equity fund, as a senior advisor. Deming joins Frank Kalman, Dick Lewis, Steve Shapiro and Joel V. Staff in an effort, chaired by Joe B. Foster, which focuses on equity investments in the upstream, oilfield service, and midstream space. Deming served as president and CEO of Murphy Oil Corp. from 1994 until the end of 2008, a firm he first joined in 1979. He is a member of the board of Murphy Oil and chairman of the executive committee, and is the current chairman of the National Petroleum Council. He received a bachelor's degree and a juris doctorate from Tulane University.

Flowserve names Blinn president, CEO to succeed retiring Kling

Flowserve Corp., a provider of flow control products and services for the global infrastructure markets, has named Mark A. Blinn as its next president and CEO and as a member of the board of directors. Lewis M. Kling, who will retire from his position as president and CEO in February, 2010, has been elected vice chairman of the board. Blinn joined Flowserve in 2004 as CFO after serving in the same capacity at Kinko's. He earned a bachelor's degree, a JD, and an MBA from Southern Methodist University. Blinn has also been in charge of Latin America operations for the company since October, 2007.

Copano Energy taps Luna senior vice president, CFO

Houston-based midstream natural gas company Copano Energy LLC has appointed Carl A. Luna as senior vice president and CFO. Luna has served as senior vice president, finance and corporate development and interim CFO since August 17, 2009. Luna joined Copano in 2005, and was elected vice president, finance in 2006. Prior to joining Copano, Luna served as a vice president in the Syndicated and Leveraged Finance Group of JP Morgan Securities Inc. He holds a bachelor's degree from Texas A&M University and an MBA from Rice University.

ECCO Energy promotes Jack Ozbolt to CEO

Houston-based ECCO Energy has promoted Jesse Q. Ozbolt "Jack" as CEO. Ozbolt joined ECCO in 2008 and has served as vice-president of engineering. He earned a bachelor's degree from Duke University and has over 30 years' experience in the oil and gas industry. Ozbolt has worked at The Oil and Gas Asset Clearinghouse, Exxon, Texas Eastern Corp., and Enex Resources. ECCO Energy is an independent oil and gas E&P company engaged in the acquisition, development and production of oil and natural gas reserves with a primary focus in South Texas.

DeepFlex promotes Kearney to company president, CEO

Houston-based DeepFlex has promoted Michael C. Kearney as its president and CEO and has elected him to the board of directors, replacing W. George Coyle. Kearney joined DeepFlex in 2008 as executive vice president and CFO. Prior to DeepFlex, he served as CFO of Tesco Corp. and CFO of Hydril Co. Kearney earned a bachelor's dedgree from Texas A&M University and a master's degree from the University of Houston. J. Kent Castleman has assumed the responsibilities of CFO. DeepFlex designs, manufactures and installs composite flexible pipe used in the global subsea oil and gas production environment.

UBS grows energy banking with Dallas office, Holley named managing director

Zurich and Basel, Switzerland-based UBS Investment Bank is expanding its global energy banking practice with the addition of 18 bankers focused on energy lending. As part of this expansion, UBS has named Darrell Holley as managing director and global head of energy lending. The team, which includes Holley and eight executive directors, will be based at a new UBS Investment Banking Department office in Dallas. Holley was previously with Fortis Bank, where he was global head of oil and gas banking. He will report to Stephen Trauber, Global Head of Energy banking at UBS. Holley earned a bachelor's degree from Texas A&M University.

Gran Tierra Energy taps Nightingale VP, exploration

Gran Tierra Energy Inc. has named Duncan Nightingale vice president of exploration. Nightingale has more than 28 years experience in in-country operating experience in regions that include the Middle East, Far East, Latin America, North Sea, Eastern Europe, Australasia, North, East and West Africa, and the Commonwealth of Independent States. He has worked at Artumas Group Inc., Dana Gas PJSC, EnCana International, and Nexen International Exploration. He holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Nottingham. Gran Tierra Energy Inc. is an international oil and gas exploration and production company, headquartered in Calgary, Canada, incorporated in the US, and operating in South America.

Range Resources adds Marcellus management

Range Resources Corp. has hired Joseph H. Frantz, Jr. as vice president of engineering and K. Scott Roy as vice president of government and regulatory affairs for the Marcellus Shale Division located in Pittsburgh. Frantz brings more than 26 years of petroleum engineering experience with Texaco, SA Holditch & Associates and Schlumberger. He holds a bachelor's degree from Penn State University. Roy previously served as executive deputy chief of staff in the Office of the Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He earned his bachelor's degree from Allegheny College and his juris doctorate from the Dickinson School of Law at Penn State University.

Tengasco appoints Rugen to succeed Ruth as CFO

Knoxville, Tenn.-based Tengasco Inc. has named Michael J. Rugen CFO. He succeeds Mark A. Ruth who resigned the CFO post late September. Ruth has served as the company's CFO since 1998. Rugen has been involved in the financial aspects of the oil and gas business since 1982. Prior to joining Tengasco, Rugen served as vice president, accounting and finance, of Nighthawk Oilfield Services. He holds a bachelor's degree from Indiana University.

Kerr joins MegaWest as finance VP, CFO

Kelly Kerr has joined MegaWest Energy as vice president of finance and CFO. Kerr has held senior executive positions in junior public oil and gas companies since 1992 and served four years as corporate finance associate at Rogers & Partners Securities. He received his bachelor's degree from the University of Calgary.

More Oil & Gas Finacial Journal Current Issue Articles
More Oil & Gas Financial Journal Archives Issue Articles

Sign up for Oil & Gas Journal Newsletters