ENERGY PLAYERS

Express Energy Services appoints new CFO

Express Energy Services has hired Kyle Lorentzen to serve as executive vice president and CFO. Lorentzen is based in Express' headquarters in Houston. Prior to joining Express, Lorentzen, a 25-year finance veteran, worked in numerous senior management roles for companies throughout the US. Most recently, Lorentzen served as the CEO for Constellium Ravenswood, a rolled aluminum products plant in North America. Previously, Lorentzen was the COO and CFO for Noranda Aluminum. Lorentzen received a bachelor's degree in economics from Wake Forest University and an MBA from the University of Massachusetts.

Burleson adds to Denver office

Burleson LLP has added two oil and gas attorneys to its practice in Denver, CO. Adam Veltri has joined the firm as partner in charge of the Denver office. John Chadd joins as partner. He will focus on corporate finance and manage the Denver oil and gas title practice. Veltri, who previously headed Steptoe & Johnson's oil and gas practice in Denver, has more than 25 years of experience in commercial transactions and corporate finance, and concentrates his practice on the oil and gas industry. He earned his undergraduate degree from the State University of New York at Albany (summa cum laude) and his law degree from the University of Pennsylvania. Chadd's experience spans more than a decade and includes energy finance, mergers and acquisitions, oil and gas operations, oil and gas title examination, and due diligence. Chadd joined Burleson from Steptoe & Johnson. He earned his undergraduate degree from Middlebury College and his law degree from Northwestern University.

Cooper named coo of Memorial Production Partners Memorial Production Partners LP appointed Christopher S. Cooper as senior vice president and COO of the general partner of MEMP. Cooper is assuming the role formerly held by Larry R. Forney, who continues in his position as senior vice president and COO of Memorial Resource Development Corp., an affiliate of MEMP. Cooper began his career at Marathon Oil Company and has 24 years of experience leading oil and gas operations and projects across the US, Canada, and the UK. He has served in a variety of operational and technical leadership positions, including asset manager of multiple basins across the US and advisor to the COO. Most recently, Cooper served as director of global projects.

Essar appoints new E&P CEO

India's Essar Oil Ltd. has appointed Manish Maheshwari as CEO of exploration and production. With over 20 years of experience, Maheshwari was most recently managing director of Hindustan Oil Exploration Co. Ltd. (HOEC). As CEO-E&P, Maheshwari will be responsible for Essar's entire E&P business, which includes 15 blocks and fields in various stages of exploration and production in India, Indonesia, Madagascar, Nigeria, and Vietnam. He previously served as investment manager in a Danish investment fund. Maheshwari holds a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering and an MBA from Strathclyde University in the UK.

Morningstar named founding director of Atlantic Council's Global Energy Center

The Atlantic Council today named Richard Morningstar-diplomat, businessman, lawyer, and scholar-as the founding director of its new Global Energy Center. Morningstar is the latest addition to an expert team the Council is assembling to build its energy initiative, including former Special Envoy and Coordinator for International Energy Affairs David Goldwyn as the chair of the center's advisory board, and Cynthia Quartermann, who joins the Council as a distinguished senior fellow following her tenure as the administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. The Council also recently welcomed Daniel Poneman, the former deputy secretary of energy, and Carlos Pascual, a two-time US ambassador, to its board of directors. Morningstar's post at the Council will build on his career ranging from a decade practicing law, two decades of private sector leadership, and a distinguished legacy as a diplomat-having served as US ambassador to the European Union, US special envoy for Eurasian energy and, until this summer, as US ambassador to Azerbaijan. Before becoming US ambassador in Baku, Morningstar served in the Clinton Administration as special adviser to the president and secretary of state for assistance to the Former Soviet Union and then for Caspian Basin Energy Diplomacy. For more than ten years, Morningstar led Costar Corp., a manufacturer of medical laboratory products, as chairman and CEO. He has also acted as a visiting scholar and diplomat in residence at Stanford University, Herman Phleger visiting professor, and then lecturer of law at Stanford Law School and was an adjunct lecturer at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government. The Atlantic Council Global Energy Center will work to promote global access to affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy.

Sidley Austin expands private equity, energy practices with new partners

David B. Denechaud and Joe F. Flack III have joined the Houston office of Sidley Austin LLP as partners. Denechaud will be a member of Sidley's private equity practice and Flack, a member of its energy practice. Denechaud focuses his practice on private equity and energy (oil and gas) M&A transactions, while Flack has built his practice around oil and gas acquisition and disposition transactions. Prior to joining Sidley, both Denechaud and Flack were lawyers with a Houston-based international law firm. Denechaud served as the co-chair of his prior firm's private equity and infrastructure funds group.

Lloyd's Register Energy names Revelsby SVP

Lloyd's Register Energy has appointed Siri Revelsby as senior vice president, consulting services. Revelsby will take a lead on the consulting business's strategic direction, expansion and technical operations. She joined Lloyd's Register Energy in 2010 when the company acquired Scandpower AS where she held the role of president, and was responsible for the Norwegian operation. In her new role, Revelsby will work from the consulting services' head office at Kjeller, Norway. A graduate of the Norwegian University of Technology and Science in Norway, Revelsby has worked in various technical, commercial, and managerial business roles in various global energy organizations. She previously worked for Norsk Hydro before joining Lloyd's Register Consulting. She succeeds the previous CEO of the former Scandpower AS company, Bjørn Inge Bakken, who has accepted a new corporate role in Lloyd's Register Group.

Drillsearch names Simpson as COO

Drillsearch Energy Ltd. has appointed Walter Simpson as COO. Prior to joining Drillsearch, Simpson served as technical and commercial director in Brisbana, Australia for BG Group subsidiary QGC. In his 30 year oil and gas career he has worked in a number of roles worldwide for BG, Baker Hughes, BP, and others. David Evans will revert from acting COO back to chief technical officer. Duncan Lockhart, who had been acting in the chief technical officer role, will take up a new position as general manager of new ventures.

Noreco names Slettebø as new CFO

Norwegian Energy Company ASA (Noreco) has appointed Odd Arne Slettebø as CFO. Slettebø replaces Tommy Sundt who was recently appointed CEO of the company. Slettebø joined Noreco in August 2012 and most recently served as group finance manager. Before joining Noreco, Slettebø was audit manager in PricewaterhouseCoopers, where he worked with the audits of large- and medium-sized clients in the oil and gas and oil services industry. Slettebø is a state-authorized public accountant and holds a master degree in accounting and auditing from Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration, in addition to a bachelor's degree in business administration from Bergen University College.

Frank's International names Bird CFO

Frank's International NV, a provider of tubular services to E&P companies, has appointed Jeffrey J. Bird as the company's executive vice president and CFO. John Sinders, who temporarily assumed the role of interim CFO in July, will continue to serve as executive vice president of administration. Bird has over 20 years of broad accounting and finance experience with both public and private companies. He was most recently CFO for Ascend Performance Materials in Houston. He has a bachelor's degree in accounting from Cedarville University in Ohio.

Anderson joins TEAM Oil Tools as CEO

TEAM Oil Tools Inc. has appointed Adam Anderson as CEO, effective immediately. Anderson will be based at TEAM Oil Tools' headquarters in The Woodlands, Texas. Anderson succeeds Byron Cowart as CEO of TEAM Oil Tools. Cowart will become chairman of the company's board of directors and will serve in an advisory role. Anderson joins TEAM following a career at Baker Hughes Inc., where he held multiple senior-level positions, including vice president of US Land Completion Tools, along with Western US vice president for all product lines.

Tethys appoints executive chairman

Tethys Petroleum Ltd. has appointed John Bell as the company's new executive chairman. The board's executive committee now consists of Bell, Julian Hammond, and Denise Lay. The company has also made the following appointments of directors to board committees: David Botting has been appointed to the audit committee, David Henderson and David Roberts have been appointed to the reserves committee with Roberts being appointed to serve as chairman. Botting and Roberts have been appointed to the compensation and nomination committee, with Botting being appointed to serve as chairman. The board has also resolved to discontinue the mandate of the Strategic Risk Committee, with future board-level decisions on strategic risk being reserved for the board.

Weaver appoints Mackel as CEO

Weaver has appointed John J. Mackel III, CPA, as managing partner and CEO, effective June 1, 2015. He succeeds Tommy D. Lawler, CPA, who will complete his six-year term in May 2015. With more than 17 years of public accounting experience, Mackel currently serves as Weaver's partner-in-charge of industry practices. Mackel also sits on the executive committee and actively provides services to clients in the energy and financial services industries. Based in the Houston office, Mackel will split time between all of the firm's offices, including its headquarters in Fort Worth. Mackel joined Weaver in January 2007 with the firm's expansion into the Houston market through the merger with McDonald, Fox & Lund PC. In October 2010, he was named the partner-in-charge of industry practices. He was appointed to the executive committee in June 2009.

Ensco promotes Lowe to EVP

Ensco plc has promoted Carey Lowe to executive vice president. Lowe will be responsible for overseeing investor relations, public relations, employee communications, and branding, led by vice president Sean O'Neill; as well as strategy, headed by vice president Michael Howe; and human resources, directed by vice president Maria Silva. Lowe was most recently senior vice president for the Eastern Hemisphere. He will continue to be based in London. Lowe joined Ensco in 2008. Steve Brady will succeed Lowe as senior vice president for the Eastern Hemisphere, and will relocate to London. Brady was previously senior vice president for the Western Hemisphere, based in Houston. Gilles Luca has been appointed senior vice president for the Western Hemisphere. His prior roles include vice president of strategy, vice president for Brazil, and vice president for Europe and the Mediterranean.

Layne Christensen names Caliel president and CEO

Layne Christensen Co. has appointed Michael J. Caliel as president and CEO, and as a member of the board of directors, effective Jan. 2, 2015. Caliel brings more than 30 years of global sales, management, and operating experience to Layne. He will succeed David A.B. Brown, CEO and chairman of the board. Brown assumed the role of CEO on an interim basis in June, and, after Jan. 2, he will continue to serve as chairman of the board. Caliel joins Layne after having served as president and CEO of the Invensys Software and Industrial Automation Division of Invensys plc. He received a bachelor's degree in industrial distribution from Clarkson University.

TPH names Houston as TPH International chairman

Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co. (TPH&Co.) has named Martin Houston, former COO of BG Group plc, as chairman of TPH International. In this newly created role at TPH&Co., Houston will work with TPH's Calgary and London offices in further expanding the firm's cross-border presence in those markets, as well as provide industry expertise in the global gas and LNG markets. Houston joined BG Group in the early 1980s, after earning a bachelor's degree in geology at Newcastle University and a master's degree in petroleum geology from Imperial College London, and was serving on the board of directors when he retired in early 2014 as the COO. Houston is the founding member of Parallax Energy; a senior advisor to Pine Brook Road Partners, a private equity firm; and a director of CCC Energy. Houston sits on the National Petroleum Council (US) and is a Companion of the Institution of Gas Engineers and Managers, as well as a Fellow of the Geological Society of London.

Horne to succeed Brown as Legacy Reserves CEO

Legacy Reserves LP chairman, CEO, and general partner, and president Cary D. Brown intends to resign from his position as CEO and president in the first half of 2015. Brown plans to continue to serve as chairman of the board. Upon Brown's resignation as CEO and president, the Board of Directors of Legacy's general partner intends to appoint Paul T. Horne, currently Legacy's executive vice president and COO, as the new CEO and president. Additionally, the board has increased the number of directors from seven to eight, and has appointed Horne as a director to immediately fill that additional seat. Horne has been part of Legacy's executive management team and has led its operations since the company was founded in 2005.

West to retire from Pioneer Energy Services

Franklin "Red" C. West 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 succees West, also effective Jan. 1, 2015. Since joining Pioneer in 2012, Tucker has served as senior vice president over the Appalachia, Utah, and North Dakota drilling divisions. Prior to joining Pioneer, he was a vice president for Helmerich and Payne, managing the South Texas operation from 2010 to 2012. Tucker is a West Point graduate with a bachelor's degree in systems engineering.