Energy Players

Nov. 1, 2012

Rich named CEO of Parker Drilling

Parker Drilling has selected Gary Rich as president and CEO. Rich will also serve as a member of Parker Drilling's board of directors. Most recently, Rich served as vice president of global sales for Baker Hughes, and prior to this role, he served as president of that company's European operations. Previously, Rich was president of Hughes Christensen Company (HCC). He assumes the president and CEO role from Robert L. Parker Jr., who will remain executive chairman of Parker Drilling. Rich holds a BS from Brigham Young University and an MS from the University of Texas. He holds a certification in management from the University of Utah and attended the California Institute of Technology's Strategic Marketing of Technology Products program.

Allen Parks joins GHS as managing director

Allen Parks, founder of Parks Paton Hoepfl & Brown (PPHB), has joined Global Hunter Securities as Managing Director, Investment Banking. Parks has over three decades of experience in drilling, M&A advisory, and investment banking. Prior to joining GHS, Parks founded PPHB and was a partner for nearly a decade providing financial advisory expertise to the oilfield services sector. He spearheaded the licensing process and was the firm's chief compliance officer in reporting to FINRA. Parks has held executive positions with CIBC World Markets and Dain Rauscher Wessels Inc. While at Dual Drilling Company, he spent two decades working as a senior financial operations executive. Parks holds a bachelor of science in chemical engineering from the University of Texas, a master of business administration from the University of Texas, and completed the advanced management program at the Harvard Business School.

Pinsonnault joins Deloitte Corporate Restructuring Group

Deloitte Financial Advisory Services LLP has expanded its Corporate Restructuring Group (Deloitte CRG) with the addition of Scott Pinsonnault as a director specializing in oil and gas companies and the broader energy sector. Pinsonnault has 17 years of experience working on corporate bankruptcies and restructurings in oil, gas, energy and related industries. He has been the chief restructuring officer of two oil and gas companies and an adviser to a third. He has represented various banks as a financial advisor for their interests in exploration and production and oil field service companies. Prior to joining Deloitte CRG, Pinsonnault worked for a boutique restructuring firm. Pinsonnault earned his bachelor's degree from St. Lawrence University, his master's degree from Texas A&M University, and an MBA from Tulane University.

Chesapeake names Webb senior VP

Chesapeake Energy Corp. has appointed James R. Webb as senior vice president – legal and general counsel. Webb joins Chesapeake on a full-time basis after serving on a contract basis as chief legal counsel. For the past 17 years, Webb has practiced law at McAfee & Taft, Oklahoma's largest law firm, and has served as a partner for the past 12 years. Prior to that, he worked at the law firm of Gorsuch Kirgis in Denver. Webb graduated with a bachelor's degree from Austin College in Sherman, Texas and a Juris Doctorate degree from Washington University in St. Louis. Henry J. Hood, Chesapeake's senior vice president – land and legal since 1997, will transfer his responsibilities for Chesapeake's legal department to Webb while retaining responsibility for the management of the company's land and regulatory departments.

Ballard Spahr's Stark to co-chair ABA Energy Committee

Roger D. Stark, a Washington-based partner at Ballard Spahr with more than 20 years of experience advising on the structuring and financing of energy projects, has been named a co-chair of the American Bar Association's Committee on Renewable, Alternative and Distributed Energy Resources (RADER). Stark will promote the Committee's mission to facilitate dialogue among thought leaders in the legal, regulatory, and policy communities on issues affecting non- conventional energy resources. RADER is part of the ABA's Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources. Stark's one-year term began in October.

EIC appoints Mitchell chairman

The Energy Industries Council (EIC), a trade association for UK companies that supply goods and services to the energy industries worldwide, has appointed Paul Mitchell as chairman of its board. Mitchell is a Chartered Civil Engineer with nearly 40 years' experience in the design and construction of large scale schemes, with specific expertise in major energy projects. Mitchell has served on the EIC's Board for two years and will take over the role of chairman with immediate effect following the retirement of Mike Rolls, director of business development, sustainability and government affairs at Siemens UK Energy Sector. Rolls has served as chairman of the EIC since May 2009. The chairman provides a formal point of contact between the EIC's CEO, Ian Stokes, and the 20-strong board of directors, and plays a vital role in the strategic direction of the EIC. Mitchell currently works as an executive with Rotary Building Services, part of the Lorne Stewart Group.

Transocean makes management changes

Effective October 1, 2012, Ihab Toma has been named executive vice president, chief of staff of Transocean Ltd. In addition to continuing to oversee the company's worldwide marketing effort, Toma will assume responsibility for Human Resources, Global Supply Chain, and Information Technology. John Stobart has been named executive vice president and COO. Before joining the company, Stobart served as worldwide drilling manager for BHP Billiton Petroleum since 1994 in Australia, the UK, and, most recently, in Houston. Stobart received his bachelor's degree from the University of Calgary and has also completed the London Business School Accelerated Development Program.

Organizational changes at NGP Capital Resources

NGP Capital Resources Co. senior vice president R. Kelly Plato is leaving the company to pursue other business opportunities. Hans Hubbard and Chris Ryals have each been promoted to the position of managing director. Stephen K Gardner, president and CEO commented, "Kelly has played a vital role in the growth and development of NGPC over the years. He was instrumental in helping us work our way through the challenges of the financial crisis and in rebuilding our investment portfolio over the last eighteen months." Gardner continued, "Hans and Chris have been key members of our investment team since our inception and their extensive backgrounds in energy-based lending have significantly benefited the company over the years."

Akin Gump elects Kim Koopersmith as firm chairperson

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP has elected Kim Koopersmith to serve as chairperson of the firm, effective April 1, 2013. Upon assuming the role, Koopersmith will become the first woman at Akin Gump—and one of very few women at a major, global law firm—to hold the position of firm chairperson. She succeeds Bruce McLean, who will step down from the role following a 20-year tenure, remaining with the firm as senior executive partner.

3Legs Resources names new CEO, focuses attention on Poland shale gas

3Legs Resources plc, an independent oil and gas group focusing on the exploration and development of unconventional oil and gas resources, has named Kamlesh Parmar as CEO. Parmar has been with 3Legs since its inception in 2007 and has previously held the position of Group Commercial Director and Poland Country Manager. Parmar is one of the four members of the Management Board of OPPPW, the Polish upstream oil and gas industry association. He is currently a director of the 3Legs group of companies, as well as Darley Energy Poland Sp. z o.o., Darley Energy Plc, Tapar Ltd. and Tapar (PF) Ltd. Peter Clutterbuck has resigned his positions as CEO and director to pursue other business interests.

Energy executives Davis, Vann join CCMP Capital

CCMP Capital Advisors LLC has added Houston-based energy executives Kyle Vann and Waters Davis to the firm as executive advisors. Vann and Davis will work with CCMP on energy investments in the E&P, midstream, power and services sectors. Vann spent 25 years in various senior leadership positions at Koch Industries including leading the creation of Entergy-Koch LP, an energy trading and transportation joint venture between Entergy Corp. and Koch Industries operating in North America and Europe, and served as its CEO. He currently serves on the board of directors of Texon LP, Crosstex Energy and Legacy Reserves and provides energy consulting services to Entergy Corp. He earned his BS from the University of Kansas. Davis's past roles have included president of Reliant Energy Retail Services and executive vice president of Spark Energy, as well as energy practice leader at McKinsey & Company. He has also served as a senior executive at a number of private companies. He has a BS from the University of Texas and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Donald McGuire named NewOak COO

NewOak has appointed Donald McGuire as COO and Head of Investment Banking. McGuire joins NewOak with over 27 years of experience in finance and operations at major investment banking, pharmaceutical, and technology companies around the globe. Most recently, McGuire was managing partner of KDM Advisors in Greenwich CT, working with founders, shareholders, Boards, and management teams to develop or restructure their companies. He earned a bachelor's degree from John Carroll University and an MBA from Pace University.