ENERGY PLAYERS

Director John Lowe was elected to succeed Farris as non-executive chairman. Farris joined Apache in 1988 and has served as its CEO since 2002 and as chairman of the board since 2009. In February 2014, he also assumed the title of president. Christmann has been with Apache for 18 years, serving in a variety of leadership roles. Most recently, he was executive vice president and COO for North America. He earned his bachelor's degree in petroleum engineering from the Colorado School of Mines, and his MBA from Southern Methodist University. Lowe has been a member of Apache's board since 2013. He spent more than 30 years with ConocoPhillips and predecessor firms, where he held a series of executive positions. Lowe is a member of the board of directors for Phillips 66 and Agrium Inc., and a special executive advisor to Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co.

Nunez succeeds Dunlap as Natural Resource Partners CFO

Craig W. Nunez has succeeded Dwight Dunlap as CFO and treasurer of Houston-based Natural Resource Partners LP. Dunlap retired as CFO and treasurer of NRP on December 31, 2014. He remains with Quintana Minerals Corp. and other Robertson family businesses. Nunez joins NRP with 27 years of global experience in finance, spanning the upstream, midstream and downstream sectors of the oil and gas industry. He has served as senior vice president and treasurer of Halliburton; treasurer of Colonial Pipeline; and director of International New Ventures at Phillips Petroleum. Most recently, he served as CEO of Bocage Group, a private investment company specializing in energy, natural resources and master limited partnerships.

Quicksilver promotes LaGatta to CFO

Quicksilver Resources Inc. has promoted Vanessa Gomez LaGatta to senior vice president, CFO, and treasurer, effective January 1, 2015. Since 2009, LaGatta has served as the company's vice president and treasurer. LaGatta has 15 years of financial experience in the energy industry. LaGatta also served as Quicksilver's representative on the Board of Directors of Crestwood Midstream Partners GP LLC from August 2012 to October 2013. Prior to joining Quicksilver, LaGatta served as a director of Credit Suisse's Investment and Corporate Banking group. She holds a BBA with distinction in International Finance from Texas Christian University.

Midstates Petroleum names EVP, COO

Mark Eck has joined Midstates Petroleum Co. Inc. as executive vice president and COO. Eck most recently worked for Samson Resources as vice president of business development, after previous roles as vice president of operations and midstream, and as Haynesville Team general manager. Prior to joining Samson, he served as the Tulsa, Oklahoma, regional business development manager at SM Energy and as supply chain manager. Eck began his oil and gas career with ARCO Oil & Gas Co., serving in various engineering, operations, planning, procurement, and human resources roles over a 21-year career. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Missouri at Rolla, and Executive Education training at Thunderbird School of Global Management.

Sierra Hamilton appoints Morgan CEO

Sierra Hamilton LLC, an oil and gas engineering firm formed by the merger of Sierra Engineering and Hamilton Group, has appointed John L. Morgan as CEO and as a member of the company's board of directors. A petroleum engineer with over 40 years of industry experience in both domestic and international exploration, production, and asset management, Morgan has served as the director of well operations and senior wells advisor to BP since 2011. He previously led operations for ARCO; Burlington Resources; Vastar Resources; and KA Compass/Compass Resources Corp., where he also served as a board member. Morgan received a bachelor's degree in petroleum engineering from the University of Wyoming. Patrick Drennon, a founder of Sierra Engineering LLC and former CEO of Sierra Hamilton, will become president of the company and will lead its Permian operations based in Midland, Texas. Drennon will also continue to serve on the board of directors. Sierra Hamilton provides outsourced engineering and onsite supervision services to the oil and gas industry.

Dilg joins Greenhill as vice chairman

Joseph C. Dilg has joined independent investment bank Greenhill & Co. Inc. in Houston as a vice chairman focused primarily on the energy sector. Through the end of 2014, Dilg served as a partner with Vinson & Elkins. He practiced at Vinson & Elkins for 38 years and led the firm as managing partner from 2002 through 2011. His law practice has encompassed counseling corporations and boards on a wide range of matters and industries, with a particular focus on large domestic and international mergers and acquisitions in the energy sector. He is a graduate of Southern Methodist University and of the University of Texas Law School.

Opportune LLP admits two partners

Opportune LLP has admitted Dean Price and John Echols, both formerly managing directors of Opportune, to the partnership. Prior to joining Opportune in 2014, Price led the Houston office of a large valuation advisory and consulting firm, and was a leader in the firm's energy practice focused on midstream and oilfield services companies. Prior to joining Opportune in 2007, Echols served in various capabilities at Enron, including chief of staff for wholesale merchant trading, and CFO of retail trading operations. Previously, Echols was a partner in Arthur Andersen's energy audit practice.

Willbros names O&G president

Harry New has rejoined Willbros Group Inc. to serve as president of the oil and gas segment. He will have operating responsibility for the company's portfolio of oil and gas construction services in the US. New was previously with Willbros in the 2005-2011 timeframe when he last headed the mainline pipeline construction activities of the company as president of US construction.

Enhanced Oil Resources names new CEO

Enhanced Oil Resources Inc. has appointed Andrew Hromyk as the company's CEO. Hromyk joined the company's board of directors in mid-November, and has been mandated to significantly reduce operating costs, preserve capital and conduct a strategic review of the company's assets concurrent with the ongoing evaluation of the Milnesand and Chaveroo oil fields by Schlumberger Technology Corp. announced September 18, 2014. Since 1995, Hromyk has been president of Century Capital Management Ltd. He studied economics at Chaminade University and the University of British Columbia.

Greene's promotes Cummins to VP

Greene's Energy Group LLC (GEG), a provider of integrated testing, rentals and specialty services, has promoted Tracy Cummins to vice president of Key Account Management. Cummins has 30 years of experience in the energy industry where he has worked in various operational, technical sales, product-line management and strategic business development roles. He joined Greene's in 2013 as the director of business development for Well Testing & Wellhead Services. Prior to Greene's, Cummins was with Weatherford for more than 16 years. Cummins studied business administration at the University of Louisiana-Lafayette.

Macro Risk Advisors expands team

Macro Risk Advisors (MRA), a provider of global equity derivatives strategy and trade execution for institutional investors, has expanded its sales and trading team with the addition of Chris Kettenmann as chief energy strategist. In this new role, Kettenmann will enhance MRA's product focus on energy, providing analysis, insights and actionable trade ideas across listed equities, options, and underlying commodities. He joins MRA from Prime Executions where he provided research and coverage of integrated oils, onshore US E&P companies, and select renewable/industrial stocks as chief energy strategist. He received a BA in political science from Carleton College.

Comer joins Norton Rose Fulbright

Robert D. Comer, a mining, energy and infrastructure lawyer, has joined the Denver office of Norton Rose Fulbright as a partner. Comer joins the firm from Jackson Kelly PLLC. With more than 25 years of experience in natural resources and environmental law, Comer's practice focuses on regulatory, compliance, permitting and operating issues in the mining, oil, gas, energy and other related industries. Comer previously served as Associate Solicitor and Rocky Mountain Regional Solicitor at the US Department of the Interior. He received his JD from the University of Colorado School of Law and his BA in Environmental Biology and Conservation from the University of Colorado. The former Chair of the American Bar Association's Public Lands and Resources, Mining, and Water Quality and Wetlands committees earned his MFS in Natural Resource Management and Ecology from Yale University.

D.A. Davidson expands

Investment banking firm D.A. Davidson & Co. has hired two industry veterans, Steven Gilbertson and Tim Sznewajs, to launch the firm's Denver investment banking office. As managing directors, Gilbertson will focus on the energy industry and Sznewajs will specialize in the engineering & construction sector. Gilbertson was recently an executive director in Oppenheimer & Co.'s energy investment banking team. He has over 18 years of experience in investment banking, corporate development, and engineering. He graduated from Princeton University with a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering and from Columbia Business School with an MBA in finance. Sznewajs recently served as the co-head and senior managing director for FMI Capital Advisors. During his nine year tenure at FMI, he worked exclusively with engineering & construction industry firms, originating and leading infrastructure industry transactions. Sznewajs graduated from University of Notre Dame with a bachelor's degree and received an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

J-W Energy makes management changes

J-W Energy Company has promoted David A. Miller to the position of president of J-W Energy Company. Richard T. Clement has accepted the additional responsibilities of president of J-W Midstream Company. Miller has provided legal representation for J-W Energy Company and its subsidiaries since 1976. He was appointed an independent director in September 2011 and later became chairman of the executive committee. He previously served as senior executive vice president. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Oklahoma and his law degree from the University of Texas. Clement will to retain his position with J-W Energy Company, focusing primarily on the midstream business. Clement joined the company in 1984. In 2009, he was named executive vice president of J-W Energy Company. He has served as an advisor to the executive management team with regards to capital allocation, asset development, hydrocarbon marketing, contracts, and legal and regulatory matters.

Hopper appointed BOEM director

US Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell has named Abigail Ross Hopper as director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM). She succeeds Dr. Walter Cruickshank, who has served in the role since former Director Tommy Beaudreau became chief of staff to Secretary Jewell in May. Dr. Cruickshank will continue to serve as BOEM's deputy director. Prior to the appointment, Hopper led the Maryland Energy Administration since 2012, first as acting director and then as director in June 2013. She also served concurrently as energy advisor to Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley since 2010. Previously, Hopper spent three years as deputy general counsel with the Maryland Public Service Commission. Before embarking on a career in public service, Hopper spent nine years in private practice, specializing in complex merger and investment counseling and corporate law. She earned a bachelor's degree from Dartmouth College and graduated cum laude from the University of Maryland School of Law.

Ecopetrol to search for new president

After eight years with Javier Gutierrez at the helm of Ecopetrol, the board of Colombia's largest company has initiated a succession process to select a new president. Javier Gutierrez has served as the company's president since January of 2007. The process of selecting the next president of Ecopetrol will be led by the board of directors, with the assistance of an international executive search firm. The company will remain under the leadership of Javier Gutierrez until the presidential succession is completed.

Ithaca Energy appoints new COO

North Sea oil and gas operator Ithaca Energy Inc. has appointed Roy Buchan as COO, effective January 5, 2015. Buchan has over 30 years of operational experience in the oil and gas industry. He has held various technical and senior management positions in the North Sea and internationally for Royal Dutch Shell plc and was previously Group Head of Operations for BG Group plc and, most recently, technical and production director of Talisman Sinopec Energy UK Ltd. John Woods, who previously served as the company's chief development officer, left the company January 31, 2015.

First Reserve makes senior promotions

First Reserve has promoted two senior investment professionals within the Energy Infrastructure Funds team. Eduard Ruijs was promoted to managing director. He joined the firm in 2011. Prior to joining First Reserve, Ruijs was an investment director and partner at NIBC Infrastructure Partners. Mark Saxe was promoted to managing director. He joined the firm in 2011. Prior to joining First Reserve, Saxe was a director in the Corporate Development department of Loews Corp.

Tucker succeeds West as EVP of Pioneer Energy Services

Franklin "Red" C. West has retired as executive vice president of Pioneer Energy Services and as president of the company's drilling services segment, effective Jan. 1, 2015. Brian L. Tucker, who joined Pioneer in 2012 and previously served as senior vice president over the Appalachia, Utah, and North Dakota drilling divisions, succeeds West. Prior to joining Pioneer, Tucker was a vice president for Helmerich and Payne, managing the South Texas operation from 2010 to 2012. He is a West Point graduate with a bachelor's degree in systems engineering.