Thomas to oversee M&A as Vaalco president

William R. Thomas has been appointed president of Vaalco Energy Inc., Houston, responsible for the company’s mergers and acquisitions activity, effective Feb. 1.

Thomas has been serving as a non-executive director for the past 9 months and will continue to serve on the board of directors.

Cary Bounds will continue as chief executive officer. Both positions will report to the board, which will continue to have five members, three of which are independent.

Thomas has over 30 years of experience in the international energy industry. Among his various roles, he has held management and executive positions Pennzoil International Co. and Amoco Corp. and advised energy clients on upstream mergers and acquisitions as part of Bankers Trust Co.

Andrew Fawthrop, VAALCO’s chairman of the board, said the company’s strategy at its current “key inflection point,” is to “grow the company, both by developing our existing asset base and through M&A.”