Statoil CEO resigns to take post at BG Group
Statoil's president and CEO, Helge Lund, resigned from the company to take up the position as chief executive and executive director of BG Group. His resignation from Statoil is effective immediately. He will begin his tenure at BG Group on March 2, 2015. Helge Lund assumed the role as president and CEO of Statoil on August 16, 2004. Prior, Lund served as the CEO of Aker Kvaerner. Statoil has appointed Eldar Saetre as acting president and CEO of Statoil and has established a sub-commitee to begin the search for a new CEO. The sub-committee is made up of chairman Svein Rennemo, board members Grace Reksten Skaugen, James Mulva and Lill Heidi Bakkerud (employee elected). Saetre has been a member of Statoil's corporate executive committee since 2003. He served as executive vice president and CFO until 2010, then as executive vice president of the Marketing, Processing and Renewable energy business area. Tor Martin Anfinnsen has been appointed as acting executive vice president for Marketing, Processing and Renewable Energy for Statoil.
US Secretary of Energy honors Daniel Yergin
Dr. Daniel Yergin, IHS vice chairman and Pulitzer Prize-winning energy expert, has received the first James R. Sclesinger Medal for Energy Security. US Secretary of Energy Dr. Ernest Moniz presented the award in a ceremony at the US Department of Energy. The medal honors an "individual's distinguished contributions to advancing our understanding of the threats, opportunities and energy policy choices impacting the domestic and international energy security interests of the United States through analysis, policy or practice." Dr. Yergin "has made unique contributions to the energy sector debate. His singular influence over the discussion of energy - and public understanding of the history and future trends of energy is unmatched" said Moniz. "The strengthening of the United States' energy position through advancements such as the US-led revolution in unconventional oil and gas production as well as the continued innovation and progress of renewables has been one of the major developments of this young century. The ever-growing importance of energy to our daily lives makes the work of the Department of Energy under Secretary Moniz's distinguished leadership all the more vital and I am extremely grateful for this honor," said Dr. Yergin. "The need to focus on energy security is continually driven home, whether by Middle East turmoil, the huge storms that have disrupted the Gulf Coasts and New York or cyber threats," Dr. Yergin added.
Apache CFO resigns; Lannie appointed as interim CFO
Alfonso Leon, executive vice president and CFO, has resigned from his positions at Apache Corp. to pursue other opportunities. The company notes that his departure is not related to any issues regarding financial disclosures, accounting, or legal matters. Executive vice president P. Anthony Lannie will serve as interim CFO as the company conducts a search for a new CFO. Prior to joining Apache as general counsel in 2003, Lannie served as president of Kinder Morgan Power Co. and as president of Coral Energy Canada, a subsidiary of Shell Oil Co.
American Energy Partners selects Reinhart as COO of affiliates
American Energy Partners LP (AELP) hired John K. Reinhart as the COO for its affiliates American Energy - Utica LLC (AEU) and American Energy - Marcellus LLC (AEM). Reinhart previously worked for Chesapeake Energy Corp., most recently as senior vice president - operations and technical services. Prior to Chesapeake, Reinhart worked for Schlumberger Ltd. in various engineering and operational leadership roles. He earned a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering from West Virginia University.
Lloyd's Register names Pohorski SVP
Lloyd's Register Energy has appointed Joanna Pohorski senior vice president, compliance services, for Lloyd's Register's Energy business. Pohorski will take a lead on the compliance team's strategic direction, expansion, and technical operations. The compliance team assesses the design, construction, and operation of offshore and onshore oil and gas facilities against engineering principles and a range of codes and standards, making sure that assets are safe and meet performance expectations set by the designer, operator or regulators. Pohorski initially joined Lloyd's Register in 2012 as the program manager for the floating offshore installations team, and a few months later she was appointed to the London-based VP projects role within the newly created compliance team. A graduate of Leopold-Franzens University in Innsbruck, Pohorski has worked in financial and operational business improvement roles, focusing on the development and implementation of management systems driving performance and ownership in global energy organizations.
Luke named CFO at MicroSeismic
MicroSeismic Inc., an oilfield services company, has appointed Rick Luke as the company's new CFO. Luke succeeds Ron Mogul, who retired this year. Luke has spent more than 30 years in the oil and gas industry and over 10 years in the role of CFO. He comes to MicroSeismic from Seismic Equipment Solutions (SES). Prior to SES, Luke was CFO of Well Dynamics. Luke earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Oklahoma State University and an MBA from Oklahoma City University. He is a Certified Public Accountant (Texas & Oklahoma). Founded in 2003, MicroSeismic is a provider of microseismic monitoring activity utilizing surface, near-surface and downhole arrays.
Wood Group Mustang hires Canadian region pipeline manager
Wood Group Mustang, a global project management, engineering, procurement, and construction management company, has appointed Harold Kraft to the newly-created position of manager, pipeline, Canadian region. Kraft's mandate is to manage the Calgary-based Pipeline group, a new addition to Wood Group Mustang's Canadian operations. The group was formed subsequent to Wood Group Mustang's acquisition of Sunstone Projects in April. Prior to joining Wood Group Mustang, Kraft was vice president, engineering and construction at Alliance Pipeline. He holds a BSc, Civil Engineering from the University of Calgary.
Weir joins Johnston Carmichael
Scotland's largest independent firm of chartered accountants and business advisers, Johnston Carmichael, has appointed a new tax director. Fiona Weir will work with clients in the oil and gas and financial services sectors, offering advice on VAT payments and recovery from the firm's Aberdeen and Edinburgh offices. After completing a law degree at Glasgow University, Weir qualified as a chartered tax adviser during three years at PWC. She then joined RBS where she spent 11 years primarily focused on advising its retail bank and insurance divisions.
Ottoson to succeed Best at SM Energy
Anthony Best will retire from his role as CEO of SM Energy Co. on January 31, 2015. In conjunction with the previously announced transition, the board of directors appointed Javan D. Ottoson, currently president and COO, to the board effective September 26, 2014, and intends to appoint Ottoson as the company's CEO upon Best's retirement. Best has served as the company's CEO and a member of its board of directors since February 2007. He joined the company in June 2006 as its president and COO. Best will complete his current term as a member of the board, and does not plan to stand for re-election.
Yuma Energy appoints McKinney as COO
Yuma Energy Inc. has appointed Paul D. McKinney as executive vice president and COO. The company also announced the retirement of Michael F. Conlon as president and COO. Additionally, Sam L. Banks, chairman and CEO, was appointed as president of the company. McKinney comes to Yuma with over 30 years of experience in the oil and gas industry. He previously served as region vice president, Gulf Coast Onshore, for Apache Corp. from 2010 through 2013. Prior to this role, McKinney was manager, Corporate Reservoir Engineering, for Apache from 2007 through 2010. He began his career with Anadarko Petroleum Corp. and held various positions with Anadarko over a 23-year period, including his last title as vice president, reservoir engineering. McKinney has a bachelor's degree in petroleum engineering from Louisiana Tech University.
US Energy COO to retire
Mark J. Larsen, president and COO of US Energy Corp., will retire from his positions effective December 31, 2014. Larsen has been employed by the company since June 1984 and he was appointed as its president and COO in August 2005. Under his leadership, the Riverton, Wyoming-based company has transitioned from predominantly pursuing mining interests into a growing oil and gas producer with assets primarily in North Dakota and Texas. At the request of the company's board, Larsen will remain in an advisory role during 2015 to oversee the advancement of the Mount Emmons molybdenum project. Larsen will continue to be a member of the board of directors through his current term which expires in June 2016.
Deutsche Bank names Kazarian lead MLP, natural gas analyst
Kristina Kazarian has joined Deutsche Bank as a director and lead research analyst covering the master limited partnerships (MLPs) and natural gas sectors within the bank's markets division. She is based in New York. Kazarian joined Deutsche Bank after more than seven years at Fidelity Management & Research Company where she covered several energy verticals including power, utilities, and refining. Most recently, Kazarian was the senior analyst responsible for the MLP and midstream sector.
Jones Energy appoints Tanner SVP
Jones Energy Inc. has named Jeff Tanner senior vice president, geosciences. Tanner has over 27 years of technical and managerial experience in the oil and gas business. Prior to joining Jones Energy, Tanner was vice president, exploration for Southwestern Energy. He holds a BS in geology from Texas A&M and an MS in geology from the University of Houston.
Weitz joins Aon as SVP
Aon plc has named Andy Weitz senior vice president of global marketing and communications. Weitz most recently served as president and CEO of the US region for Hill + Knowlton Strategies. In this newly created role, Weitz will lead Aon external corporate communications and oversee corporate citizenship. He will also be responsible for defining Aon's content marketing strategy and building an integrated approach to product marketing. Weitz will serve as a member of the company's executive leadership team. Weitz has a bachelor's degree from the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Southern California and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.
Houston-based law firm expands
Tax and project finance attorney Don Looper and energy attorney J. Wayne Ballew Jr. are expanding the firm they formed earlier this year with the addition of New Orleans offshore oil and gas lawyer Paul (P.J.) Goodwine and his legal team. The newly renamed Looper Goodwine & Ballew PC will have offices in Houston and New Orleans and will continue to focus on complex transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, both internationally and domestically, in energy and other sectors. PJ has extensive experience representing clients in a variety of oil and gas matters. He represents primarily independent oil and gas exploration and production companies in legal and regulatory issues. Goodwine has also served as special oil and gas counsel to trustees, official committees, and debtors-in-possession in several notable oil and gas bankruptcies.
Zygocki to retire from Chevron following 34 years of service
Rhonda I. Zygocki, executive vice president, policy and planning at Chevron Corp., has elected to retire from the company after 34 years of service effective Feb. 1, 2015. Zygocki began her career in petroleum engineering with Chevron Canada Resources in Calgary after graduating from Memorial University of Newfoundland. During her career at Chevron, Zygocki held positions of increasing responsibility, including managing director of Chevron Australia. As a senior officer in the company, Zygocki was central in the design and implementation of Chevron's Operational Excellence Management System. Following the announcement of Zygocki's pending retirement, three new reporting assignments are being announced effective Jan. 1, 2015: Steve Green, vice president, policy, government and public affairs; and Joe Naylor, vice president, strategic planning, will report to John Watson. Wes Lohec, vice president, health, environment and safety, will report to Joe Geagea, senior vice president, technology, projects and services.
E&Y promotes Matlock to partner
Greg Matlock was promoted to partner in Ernst & Young's transaction advisory services/transaction tax practice. He is based in Houston, where he leads projects in the oil and gas sector. Matlock's career spans almost 10 years, including four with Ernst & Young. He started his career with Fulbright & Jaworski LLP. Matlock earned a BA in finance from Michigan State University, a JD from Thomas M. Cooley Law School, and an LLM degree from the New York University School of Law.
Linc Energy makes board changes
Peter Bond, Linc Energy Ltd.'s long time CEO and managing director, will transition to the role of executive chairman of the board. In his place, Craig Ricato has been chosen to lead the SGX and OTCQX listed company in the role of CEO and managing director, with Michael Mapp as COO. Ricato joined Linc Energy in 2008 as general counsel and company secretary and was named executive director of the company's board in 2010. The company's outgoing chairman, Ken Dark, will remain on the board as a non-executive director. These executive and board changes are effective immediately. Ricato obtained a bachelor of commerce degree and was admitted as a legal practitioner in the Supreme Court of Queensland and the High Court of Australia after graduating with a bachelor of laws with First Class Honours.
Pacey joins Kirkland & Ellis
Capital markets lawyer Matthew R. Pacey will join Kirkland & Ellis LLP as a partner in the Houston office. Pacey's practice concentrates on capital markets transactions, corporate governance and compliance. He regularly represents private equity-backed companies in connection with initial public offerings, particularly in the upstream, midstream and oil field service sectors. He has represented issuers or underwriters in more than 50 MLP financing transactions with aggregate proceeds of over $20 billion. He was previously a partner in the Houston office of Vinson & Elkins. Pacey holds a JD with honors, Order of the Coif, from The University of Texas School of Law, and two BA degrees from Texas A&M University.
