Rowan names Ralls CEO, president; appoints Lentz chairman of the board

Rowan Companies Inc. has named W. Matt Ralls the company’s new president, CEO, and member of the board, succeeding D.F. McNease, who resigned in late October. Ralls most recently served as executive vice president and COO of GlobalSantaFe Corp., an international contract drilling company, from June 2005 until the completion of the merger of GlobalSantaFe with Transocean Inc. in November 2007. Ralls has been a director of GP of El Paso Pipeline Partners since January 2008. He holds an undergraduate degree and an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin. The board named Jack Lentz chairman of the board. Lentz has held a position on Rowan’s board since 1990.

Falcon Gas Storage under new management

Hopper

Houston-based Falcon Gas Storage Co. Inc.’s original founding management group has exercised a partial equity sale option and has stepped down, while still retaining a significant equity ownership position in the company. The departing group consists of CEO John M. Hopper, Jeffrey H. Foutch, Edmund A. Knolle, Keith Chandler, and Thomas B. Wynne. The company’s board has named a new senior management team consisting of Tore Nelson, James Goetz, and Vernon Williams. Goetz and Williams have extensive experience in gas storage facility development and management. They were responsible for building and managing the Caledonia gas storage facility in Mississippi and have worked for several companies in the industry. Nelson served as an operating partner with Arcapita BSC, Falcon’s largest shareholder and equity sponsor.

Reinhart new CFO at Nexen, succeeds Romanow

Nexen Inc. has appointed Kevin Reinhart as senior vice president and CFO. He succeeds Marvin Romanow, who is now president and CEO, following the retirement of Charlie Fischer at the end of 2008. Since joining Nexen in 1994, Reinhart has held the roles of controller, treasurer, and most recently, senior vice president, corporate planning and business development. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Saint Mary’s University in Halifax.

CNX Gas promotes Myers, McLaughlin

CNX Gas Corp. has promoted Buford Myers, previously general manager - Virginia operations and Samuel McLaughlin, previously general manager - Northern Appalachia operations to vice president - Virginia operations and vice president - Northern Appalachia operations, respectively. Buford earned a degree from Bluefield State College. In 1992 Buford accepted the position of chief electrical supervisor with CNX Gas. In 2007 he was promoted to general manager - Virginia operations. McLaughlin graduated from West Virginia University. In 2005 Sam joined CNX Gas as a production manager and in 2006 assumed the role of general manager - Northern Appalachia operations.

Fugro Gravity & Magnetic names Western Hemisphere business development team

Fugro Gravity & Magnetic Services, the business development arm of Fugro Airborne Surveys and Fugro Ground Geophysics, has named its business development team to lead its Western Hemisphere efforts. The team includes Dave Schwartz and Brenda Robinson in the US; Jeff Rowe, Doug McConnell, and Ian Davies in Canada; Ricardo Fernandez in Mexico; and Antonio Sousa Neves in Brazil. Schwartz, vice president of marketing for Fugro Gravity & Magnetic Services, received a bachelor’s degree from the Colorado School of Mines. Robinson, a marketing representative, received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Houston. Rowe, vice president and senior geophysicist, leads Fugro’s Canadian operations. He received a bachelor’s degree from Temple University. McConnell, general manager and senior geophysicist in Canada, received an MBA from York University in Ontario and a bachelor’s degree from Queen’s University. Davies, business development manager in Canada, has been with Fugro for 19 years. He received a master’s degree from the Marine School of Ocean Sciences in North Wales and a bachelor’s degree from Exeter University. Fernandez, a senior geophysicist and business development manager in Latin America, received a PhD, a master’s degree, and a bachelor’s degree. Neves, a senior geoscience consultant based in Brazil, earned a PhD and a bachelor’s degree at MIT.

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Madison Capital taps senior VP, energy operations

Madison Capital Management LLC, an alternative investment management firm specializing in niche distressed real estate, natural resources and special situation financial assets, has appointed Michael M. Sagan to oversee the firm’s energy operations.

Madison, through its affiliates, holds nearly 500 leases spanning roughly 75,000 acres of oil and natural gas fields in Kentucky and Colorado. Sagan previously served as a drilling and production manager for Hallwood Petroleum LLC in Cleburne and Dallas. Sagan has more than 30 years’ experience in the industry. In 2003 he was named vice president of engineering for Denver-based Aspect Energy LLC, a privately held independent oil and natural gas exploration and energy investment company. He holds a bachelor’s degree from The Pennsylvania State University.

Continental Energy accepts CFO resignation

Continental Energy Corp.’s CFO, James D. Eger, has resigned. He will remain as a part-time and non-exclusive consultant and advisor, particularly in the areas of new business and corporate development. Eger is relocating from Dallas to SE Asia in order to pursue business opportunities in alternative energy. The company has engaged the part-time services of Chip Langston in its Dallas office. He will assume duties as the principal contact person for shareholders and others seeking information about the company.

Wood Group appoints Smedley VP of engineering

Smedley

Wood Group Pressure Control, part of international energy services company John Wood Group PLC, has appointed Marcus A. Smedley, vice president of engineering. He has 20 years of experience in the industry, spending most of his career with FMC Technologies. Smedley received a degree from Texas A&M University and a MBA degree from Southern Methodist University. He is co-inventor of five US patents for oil and gas industry products.

Doyle joins Caspian as president, CEO

The board of Caspian Services Inc. has appointed Kerry Doyle to the positions of CEO and president. Doyle will replace Laird Garrard who served as the company’s CEO since 2005 and as its president since 2004. Previously, Doyle served as the CEO and president of Veritas Caspian LLP, the company’s joint venture with CGG Veritas. He brings over 35 years’ experience in the industry. Caspian Services is an oilfield service company operating in both onshore and offshore areas of the Caspian Sea region of western Kazakhstan.

Hollis promoted to ION president and COO

The board of ION Geophysical Corp. has appointed Jim Hollis as president and COO. Hollis will oversee all operations, including all business units, sales and manufacturing. He previously served as executive vice president and COO of ION Solutions. Before joining ION in 2003, Hollis was general manager of exploration and development solutions for Landmark Graphics. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara and a master’s degree from the University of Utah. ION is a provider of geophysical technology, services, and solutions for the global oil and gas industry.

BPZ Resources names new chief accounting officer

BPZ Resources has appointed Heath Cleaver to vice president and chief accounting officer. Cleaver served as corporate controller for BPZ from October 2006 until November 2008. Immediately prior to joining BPZ, Cleaver performed consulting services for a variety of public companies. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University.

GulfMark Offshore promotes three

GulfMark has made three management promotions. Quintin V. Kneen, senior vice president, finance and administration, will transition to the role of CFO subsequent to the filing of the company’s 2008 10-K in February 2009, as Ed Guthrie, currently executive vice president & CFO, moves into the role of assisting the president prior to his retirement in 2009. Quintin joined GulfMark in June 2008. Previously, he was vice president, finance and investor relations for Grant Prideco. He holds an MBA from Rice University and a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University. Samuel R. Rubio, vice president and controller, will be responsible for all accounting functions of the company and will assume the role of CAO. Rubio has been with GulfMark since 2005. He has a bachelor’s degree from Sul Ross State University. Anthony L. White, vice president, internal audit will be responsible for the internal audit function of the company and assume the role of chief compliance officer. He has been responsible for developing the internal audit function at GulfMark since 2005 when he joined the company. He has both a bachelor’s degree and an MBA from the University of Kentucky. Carla Mashinski, currently vice president, accounting and CAO, has tendered her resignation to pursue other interests.

Coolen succeeds McKenzie as Canadian Superior CEO

Canadian Superior has appointed Mike Coolen as CEO. He joined the company in 2001 and has been the president and COO since April 2006. He is also a director of the company. Since joining Canadian Superior in July 2001, Coolen has been responsible for Canadian Superior’s operations offshore Trinidad and Tobago, in North Africa, offshore Nova Scotia, and Canada. Prior to joining Canadian Superior, he was a senior manager with ExxonMobil Canada. A veteran of over 35 years in the oil and gas business, Coolen holds degrees from Dalhousie University and Nova Scotia Technical College. Craig McKenzie, Canadian Superior’s previous CEO, has stepped down to pursue other interests and is no longer with the company nor a director.

Energy Navigator opens Houston office, adds new VP of business development

Energy Navigator, a provider of software solutions in the oil and gas industry, has opened a new office in Houston. Tim Loser, Energy Navigator’s new vice president of business development, brings over 15 years of experience in the oil and gas technology industry. Prior to joining Energy Navigator, Loser spent eight years with Spotfire/TIBCO as a senior sales consultant. He also spent eight years at Schlumberger in the GeoQuest division. He is a graduate of Texas A&M University and holds a bachelor of science degree.

Fenwick to lead oil and gas team at Ernst & Young

Wendy Fenwick has been appointed global oil and gas leader at Ernst & Young. She will be responsible for leading a global team of oil and gas professionals providing a wide range of assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services to the industry. She succeeds Rob Jessen, who helped establish Ernst & Young’s global oil and gas center and strategy. He will continue on client accounts in the sector.

Hess names Goodell senior VP, general counsel

Timothy B. Goodell has been appointed senior vice president and general counsel for Hess Corp. Goodell has been a partner in the law firm White & Case, where he has worked since 1984. Most recently he served as a member of the firm’s partnership committee. He received his bachelor’s degree from Davidson College and his law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law.

Gallagher joins Purvin & Gertz

Purvin & Gertz Inc., an energy consulting firm, has added C. Paul Gallagher as a senior consultant in the Houston headquarters office. He comes to Purvin & Gertz from Aspen Technology where he served as principal advisor for the Aspen PIMS product family. Prior to Aspen, he held various positions with the Atlantic Richfield and Lyondell Petrochemical companies. Paul holds a bachelor’s degree and an MBA, both from Drexel University in Philadelphia.

Rex Energy appoints Ulincy as vice president

Rex Energy Corp. has named Bernard J. Ulincy vice-president, land manager. Ulincy is a veteran in lease acquisition and land management with almost 30 years of experience. He will oversee all Rex Energy activities related to the company’s mineral interests and other land-related assets and rights. He holds a bachelor’s degree from East Stroudsburg State College and completed post-graduate work at Indiana State University. Ulincy most recently served as senior staff landman at El Paso E&P Co.

Petromin taps Gorrell to CEO, CFO posts

Petromin Resources has appointed a new CEO and acting CFO, as well as new audit committee members. Ross Gorrell, who has served as president since 1990, has been named CEO and acting CFO. He will continue his roles as non-executive co-chairman and as a director. Gorrell replaces Kenny Chan, who has resigned from the positions of CEO and acting CFO for personal reasons. Chan will continue to serve as non-executive co-chairman and as a director. The board has appointed Jimmy Lau, Kenny Chan, and Ross Gorrell to the company’s audit committee. Chan and Lau will serve as independent members, while Gorrell will serve as a non-independent member.

Co-president, co-COO Mobed leaving IHS

IHS co-president and co-COO Ron Mobed will be leaving IHS Inc. after a six-month transition period. During this time, he will serve as vice chairman of IHS reporting to Jerre Stead, IHS chairman and CEO, in an advisory capacity. Mobed led the growth in the former energy segment and helped to communicate the full range of the company’s capabilities in the energy sector. Jeff Tarr, formerly co-president and co-chief operating officer, will now assume the role of president and COO. The co-president and co-COO structure aided the company in unifying two separate IHS organizations (energy and engineering) into one company over the past 12 months.