Energy Players

July 18, 2014

TransAtlantic names new Coo, president

Ian J. Delahunty resigned from his role as president of TransAtlantic Petroleum Ltd. to start his own oil and gas company. Todd C. Dutton was named president and James R. Huling was named COO. Dutton has served as president of Longfellow Energy LP, an independent oil and natural gas E&P company owned by TransAtlantic's chairman and CEO, N. Malone Mitchell 3rd and his family. Dutton brings 37 years of experience in the industry. Dutton earned a BBA in petroleum land management from the University of Oklahoma. Huling has served as COO of Longfellow since May 2012. From 2007 until May 2012, Huling served as president of Kiamichi Energy Corp., a consulting and production company that he founded. He brings nearly 30 years of experience in reservoir engineering, drilling and completion operations and production optimization. Huling earned a bachelor's degree in petroleum engineering from the University of Oklahoma.

ZaZa Energy names Jansen as CFO

Paul F. Jansen, chief accounting officer of ZaZa Energy Corp., has also assumed the role of CFO. Prior to joining the company in March 2013, Jansen was controller and CAO for Crimson Exploration Inc. Jansen replaces Ian H. Fay, who will continue to serve as an outside strategic advisor to ZaZa, the role he played for ZaZa and other companies prior to assuming the position of CFO.

AEP updates management team

American Energy Partners LP (AELP) has hired Jeff Agosta as the CFO of American Energy – Utica LLC (AEU). Agosta most recently served as CFO of Devon Energy from 2010 to January 2014. He is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma with a BBA degree in accounting with and is a Certified Public Accountant. AELP also has hired Jeff Mobley as its senior vice president – major acquisitions. Mobley most recently served as senior vice president – investor relations and research for Chesapeake Energy. Mobley is a CFA Charterholder and graduated with an MBA from The Wharton School of Business and a BS degree from New Mexico State University. Mobley has been working as a consultant to AELP for the past five months. He will also be responsible for the oil and natural gas hedging programs across the AELP platform. Ryan A. Turner has assumed new responsibilities as chief investment officer and CFO – institutional investments. Turner most recently served as vice president – finance of AELP. Turner earned a BS degree from Duke University.

Pinto joins Qv21 Technologies as VP

Austin, TX-based Qv21 Technologies has named Maurice Pinto as vice president of data information strategy at Qv21 Technologies. Pinto has more than 20 years of experience in technology services, leadership and logistics. He previously served as director of global operations for World Fuel Services. Pinto holds a certificate in Technology Product Strategy from MIT, an MBA from Nova Southeastern University and a bachelor's degree in computer science from Florida International University.

Exxon grows management committee

Exxon Mobil Corp. has elected Jack P. Williams and Darren W. Woods to the positions of senior vice president and members of the management committee. Williams, currently executive vice president of ExxonMobil Production Company, will also become a vice president of the corporation. Woods is currently president of ExxonMobil Refining & Supply Company and a vice president of the corporation. Williams and Woods, together with Rex W. Tillerson, chairman and CEO, and senior vice presidents Mark W. Albers, Michael J. Dolan and Andrew P. Swiger, will constitute the corporation's management committee. Williams was appointed to his current position in 2013. He joined Exxon USA in 1987. He holds a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Vanderbilt University. Woods was appointed to his current position in 2012. He joined Exxon Company International in 1992. He has a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Texas A&M University and an MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management.

Superior taps Thibodeaux as president

Superior Performance Inc., a provider of threaded tubing and casing products and services, has appointed Mitch Thibodeaux as president. Thibodeaux will oversee the company's field service operations, rental tool equipment line, and new product development. He has been in the oil and gas industry for more than 25 years and has served at Superior Performance for more than 17 years.

Wood Group Mustang hires new VP

Wood Group Mustang, a global project management, engineering, procurement, and construction management company, has appointed Scott Rempel to the position of vice president, business development and strategy. His primary responsibilities are to drive Wood Group Mustang's continued growth in Canada. Previously in his career, Rempel held senior management positions with two other energy service companies. He holds a master of business administration degree from the University of Alberta, Haskayne School of Business and a bachelor of commerce degree from the University of Calgary.

Foch joins PPHB as managing director

PPHB has appointed Mona Foch as managing director. Foch is leading the newly formed PPHB Debt Advisory Practice. The group provides advice to energy service companies on raising new debt capital, refinancing existing debt facilities, and matters regarding strategic debt placement. Foch brings more than 30 years of commercial banking and corporate finance experience in the oilfield service industry. Foch spent 20 years of her career with JPMorgan and its predecessor institutions and five years with Comerica. Prior to beginning her career in commercial banking, Foch spent five years in New Orleans, with the majority of that time spent with Louisiana Land and Exploration in their Treasury Group. She received her bachelor's degree in accounting from the University of New Orleans and a master's degree in finance from Northwestern's Kellogg Graduate School of Management. She is a licensed Certified Public Accountant.

Superior Energy names Remson VP

Superior Energy Services has named Paul Remson as vice president of risk management. Based in Houston, Remson's responsibilities include the placement, analysis and management of the company's comprehensive property, casualty, marine and specialty insurance programs. Remson joins Superior with more than 26 years of experience in risk management and corporate claims. He most recently held the position of director of insurance at McDermott International. He received a bachelor's degree from Louisiana State University.

Willbros makes management changes

Willbros Group Inc. has made management changes. Michael Futch has been appointed president, Willbros Oil & Gas. Scott Timpone has been promoted to COO, Willbros Oil & Gas. Futch and Timpone are headquartered in Houston, Texas. In Canada, Andrew Jack has been appointed president, Willbros Canada. Jeremy Kinch is the new COO of Willbros Canada. Futch joined Willbros in August 2012 as director of engineering and was promoted to vice president and general manager of Willbros US Construction in November 2012. He has more than 17 years of experience in the energy industry. He earned a bachelor's degree in construction engineering technology from Louisiana Tech University. Timpone joined Willbros in October 2009 and has held various positions with Willbros including project manager, director of project management, vice president of facilities and EPC projects. Timpone has worked in the oil, gas and energy industry for over 30 years. Jack joined Willbros in October 2012. Jack holds more than 25 years of experience in the oil and gas pipeline industry. Kinch most recently served as vice president, technical services, with the addition of human resources in December 2013. Kinch initially joined Willbros in 2008. He holds a bachelor's degree in geological engineering from Queen's University.

V&E names Houston managing partner

Vinson & Elkins partner Karl S. Stern is taking over as the managing partner of the firm's Houston office, succeeding Marie Yeates who has served in the role for nearly seven years. Stern has led the firm's Global Litigation & Regulatory Department since 2010. V&E Partner Jim Thompson will succeed Stern in that role. Stern joined V&E in 1982. Thompson came to the firm in 1986.

Apache makes leadership changes

Tom Yelich and Tim Custer will assume new leadership roles at Apache Corp. as part of the reorganization of the company's business development and land groups. Yelich has been promoted to the new position of staff vice president, business development, and will report to Alfonso Leon, executive vice president and CFO. Custer has been promoted to the new role of staff vice president – land, reporting to John Christmann, executive vice president and COO – North America. Yelich joined Apache in 2006. He was promoted to director of business development in 2013. He holds a bachelor's degree in petroleum engineering from the University of Texas at Austin and master's degrees in business administration and accounting from the University of Texas at Dallas. Custer has been the Permian Region's land and commercial manager since 2010. He joined Apache in 1996 and subsequently served as a manager and director in business development. He holds a bachelor's degree in petroleum land management from the University of Texas at Austin.

MicroSeismic names president, CEO

MicroSeismic Inc. has appointed Jeff Foster as the company's president and CEO. Founder of the company and past CEO, Peter M. Duncan, will continue with MicroSeismic as co-chairman. Foster has more than 25 years of oilfield drilling and completion experience. Foster will serve on the board of directors. Prior to MicroSeismic, Foster was senior vice president of several divisions within Tesco Corp. He holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Oklahoma and an MBA from Tulane University.