Personnel Moves and Promotions - Oil consultant becomes Sonoran's CEO, president

Sonoran Energy Inc., Bakersfield, Calif., has appointed London-based oil consultant Paul Bristol as its new chairman, president, and CEO to lead Sonoran Energy's pursuit of oil and gas opportunities in Iraq.

In addition, Sonoran Energy said it would open a London office. Bristol succeeds John Punzo, who resigned as CEO as well as from the company's board.

Punzo will remain with Sonoran Energy through January to ensure a smooth transition.

Forum Energy Corp., Calgary, has appointed David R. Robinson its president and CEO.

He succeeded Larry W. Youell in those positions. Youell will remain Forum Energy's chairman.

Previously, Robinson was chairman of Tracer Petroleum Corp., Calgary.

Calgary-based Bow Valley Energy Ltd. appointed Nick Fairbrother as director, business development, of its UK subsidiary Bow Valley Petroleum (UK) Ltd.

In his new position, Fairbrother will oversee identifying and evaluating new business opportunities in the UK and Norwegian sectors of the North Sea.

Fairbrother has 26 years of oil and natural gas industry experience, focused primarily on the North Sea. He has worked for Amoco (UK) Exploration, Expro North Sea Ltd., Kerr- McGee Oil (UK) PLC, and Amerada Hess Corp.

Ivanhoe Energy Inc., Vancouver, BC, appointed W. Gordon Lancaster its chief financial officer.

Lancaster was with accounting firm Deloitte & Touche LLP for 20 years, including 5 years as a partner.

St. Mary Land & Exploration Co., Denver, named Jerry R. Schuyler senior vice-president and manager of the Gulf Coast region. The company plans to move that regional office to Houston from Lafayette, La., early this year.

Before joining St. Mary, Schuyler was the Houston-based Dominion Exploration & Production Inc.'s senior vice-president and general manager, eastern onshore division.

Tom Brown Inc., Denver, appointed John Sanchez vice-president and general manager, Dallas.

Sanchez has 13 years of industry experience, most recently serving as vice-president, corporate development and reservoir engineering, for Bill Barrett Corp., a Denver independent.

Harvest Natural Resources Inc., Houston, has appointed Karl L. Nesselrode vice-president, engineering and business development.

Nesselrode joined Harvest Natural Resources in November 2003. He was president of Reserve Insights LLC from February 2002 until November.