ENERGY PLAYERS

John Bridges joined the Association of International Petroleum Negotiators (AIPN) as its new executive director. Bridges has almost 35 years of oil and gas industry experience. Prior to joining AIPN, Bridges served as manager of international negotiations for North Africa and Europe with Anadarko Petroleum Corp. Having joined Anadarko as the Land Supervisor, Alaska in 2001, Bridges was later promoted to the role of Land Manager for East Texas, Mid-Continent, and Alaska. In 2006, he joined Anadarko's Negotiations Team to support the company's entry into Mozambique. From this role, Bridges became responsible for business development negotiations in Southeast Asia and began supporting Anadarko's efforts in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar, and Vietnam. Bridges earned a BBA in Petroleum Land Management from the University of Texas in Austin and an MBA from California State University at Bakersfield. The AIPN was founded in 1981 to enhance the professionalism of cross-border energy negotiators throughout the world. AIPN is now comprised of more than 4,300 members in more than 110 countries, representing numerous international oil and gas companies, host governments, law firms and academic institutions. AIPN members come from a variety of disciplines: commercial, technical, academic and legal.

Perea joins WSPA as SVP, policy and strategic affairs

Western States Petroleum Association (WSPA) has hired Henry Perea as senior vice president, policy and strategic affairs. In this role, he will advise WSPA on public policy and legislative matters in California. Prior to joining WSPA, Perea was senior director with the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America. From 2010 to 2015, he represented the 31st Assembly District (Fresno-area) in the California State Assembly. The Western States Petroleum Association is a non-profit trade association that represents companies that account for the bulk of petroleum exploration, production, refining, transportation and marketing in the five western states of California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, and Nevada.

Templar Energy names CFO

Templar Energy LLC and its affiliates have appointed Joe Pukaite as senior vice president and CFO, effective April 1, 2017. Pukaite has more than 23 years of direct experience in the energy sector and joins Templar from Freeport-McMoRan Oil & Gas LLC. Pukaite served in increasing roles of importance, most recently as treasurer from 2013 to 2017. He has significant financial, capital markets, and M&A expertise developed through positions in treasury, corporate development, and investment banking. Pukaite began his career in operations as an engineer with Schlumberger. Pukaite received his Master of Business Administration with emphasis in Finance from Rice University and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Baylor University.

Williams names US Magistrate Judge Wilson to general counsel position

The Williams Companies Inc. has named United States Magistrate Judge T. Lane Wilson senior vice president and general counsel, succeeding Sarah Miller, who previously announced her resignation. Judge Wilson has served as the US Magistrate Judge for the Northern District of Oklahoma since 2009. In 2016, Judge Wilson was appointed to the Judicial Conference Committee on Criminal Law by US Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts. Prior to his appointment as a US Magistrate Judge, Wilson was a shareholder and member of the board of directors for Oklahoma-based law firm, Hall Estill from 1994 to 2008. At Hall Estill, he managed a team of lawyers that specialized in commercial litigation matters focused in the areas of oil and gas, construction, telecommunications and intellectual property. Wilson also has prior energy industry experience, having previously worked for Exxon early in his career. Judge Wilson earned his Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from the University of Tulsa and earned his JD degree with honors from the University of Tulsa College of Law.

Bradford joins Opportune as managing director

Steven Bradford has joined Opportune LLP, an international energy consulting firm, as managing director. Based in Houston, Bradford will manage system implementation support, quality assurance, and the application of technologies for improved controls and more efficient business operations. He joins Opportune with over 20 years of leadership experience in business transformation, systems/technology implementation, business process and controls improvement. Most recently, Bradford served as Principal at KPMG within its Commodity/Energy Risk Management Practice, focusing on the application of technology to improve the end-to-end trading/commercial and risk management functions of energy clients. Previously, he was a partner with Accenture's Global Energy Practice. Bradford holds a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering from Purdue University.

Hunton & Williams makes promotions

Hunton & Williams LLP recently promoted lawyers serving clients in the energy space. New partners include Wyatt Deal, Michael Klaus, S. Christina Kwon, and Kerry McGrath. Deal, based in Richmond, VA, focuses his practice on private equity and venture capital. He received his undergraduate degree from University of Virginia and his law degree from Washington and Lee University School of Law. Klaus, based in Washington DC, focuses his practice on project finance, corporate finance and mergers and acquisitions involving energy and infrastructure projects. He will be relocating to the firm's San Francisco office to expand the firm's energy transactional presence on the West Coast. An undergraduate of Xavier University, Klaus received his law degree from Georgetown University Law Center. Kwon, based in New York, focuses her practice on capital markets transactions for energy/utility issuers. An undergraduate of Georgetown University, Kwon received her law degree from University of Virginia School of Law. McGrath, based in Washington DC, focuses her practice on environmental, natural resources, energy and administrative law. An undergraduate of Vanderbilt University, McGrath received her law degree from George Washington University Law School.

UTEC names new CEO

UTEC, a global survey company in subsea services group Acteon, has named Stuart Cameron as CEO as Martin O'Carroll, the company's original founder, retires. Cameron has spent more than 20 years in the international subsea construction sector having previously held a variety of operational and management roles for Subsea 7 as well as COO for Ceona. O'Carroll, who has more than 25 years' industry experience, co-founded UTEC in 2005. Cameron will be based in the newly formed UTEC headquarters within the Acteon building in Aberdeen.

Energy XXI Gulf Coast names Brooks as CEO

Energy XXI Gulf Coast Inc. has appointed Douglas E. Brooks as CEO and president effective April 17, 2017. The board concurrently increased the size of EGC's board from six to seven directors and named Brooks to fill the newly-created directorship. Brooks has over 34 years of experience in the energy industry. Most recently he served as the CEO for Yates Petroleum Corp., a privately-owned exploration and production company, from April 2015 until Yates' merger with EOG Resources Inc. in October 2016. Brooks previously served as CEO of Aurora Oil & Gas Ltd., and as a senior vice president at Forest Oil Corp. He spent 24 years with Marathon Oil Company in roles of increasing responsibility, lastly as the Director of Upstream Mergers and Acquisitions and Business Development for the Americas. He has also built two private equity-sponsored firms focused on unconventional resource projects in the western US. Brooks holds a bachelor of science degree from the University of Wyoming - Casper and an MBA from Our Lady of the Lake University in Texas.

Hulse to succeed Caldwell as Murphy Oil controller

Keith S. Caldwell, senior vice president and controller of Murphy Oil Corp., plans to retire later this year. In advance of Caldwell's retirement, effective June 1, 2017, Christopher D. Hulse has been elected to vice president and controller. Caldwell will remain at Murphy until later in the year to assist with the transition. Hulse joined the company's wholly owned subsidiary, Murphy Exploration & Production Co. in 2015 and is currently vice president, finance projects. Prior to this assignment, Hulse served as vice president finance, onshore with responsibilities over accounting for North American onshore operations. Before joining Murphy, Hulse worked for a large integrated global oil and natural gas company having over 18 years of experience in accounting, finance, planning and strategy, including being a country finance controller. Hulse holds a bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of Bath, United Kingdom and is designated as a Chartered Accountant by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

Jackson Walker adds three in Austin

Jackson Walker LLP has added three lateral hires. The additions, partners John R. Hays, Jr. and Gregg Owens, together with senior counsel Alicia French, will enhance the firm's energy regulatory capabilities as well as its oil and gas litigation, counseling, and transactions practice. Hays focuses his practice on issues before courts and administrative agencies, together with related agreements, and previously served as an Examiner with the Railroad Commission of Texas. He teaches Energy Law and Policy at the University of Texas School of Law. Owens brings nearly four decades of experience in complex business and commercial litigation matters before state and federal courts, regulatory agencies, and in arbitration proceedings. French represents clients on matters in the energy and environmental industries, including oil and gas regulatory work and permitting matters before the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the Railroad Commission. Prior to joining Jackson Walker, the trio practiced together at Hays & Owens LLP, an energy regulatory and litigation boutique in Austin.

Alvarez & Marsal hires Relf as managing director

Global professional services firm Alvarez & Marsal (A&M) has expanded its supply chain management capabilities in the energy sector with the hire of Jeffrey T. Relf, who joins the firm's Corporate Performance Improvement practice in Houston as a managing director. Relf brings more than 30 years of experience advising on supply chain management issues and challenges. He counsels organizations seeking to operate profitably in a low oil price environment and works with companies on the planning and execution of liquids and gas pipelines. Prior to joining A&M, Relf spent seven years with BG Group as a CIO based in Brisbane, Australia and a supply chain executive based in Houston. Prior to BG Group, Relf spent 23 years with Accenture. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Arizona. He holds a Certification in Production and Inventory Management by the American Production and Inventory Control Society.

Devetski, Johnston join EY

Tim Devetski and Kimberly Johnston have joined Ernst & Young LLP's tax services practice in Houston. Devetski joins as a principal in Houston focused on planning and implementing mergers and acquisitions, restructurings, and financings. He has more than 22 years of experience practicing federal tax law, including numerous complex transactions in the energy industry. Devetski was a partner in the law firms Sidley Austin LLP and Vinson & Elkins LLP. Johnston rejoins Ernst & Young LLP National Tax Department's Energy Group as a partner located in Houston. Johnston was vice president at CenterPoint Energy since 2011 and Tax Director of Spectra Energy. Previously, she had worked at PwC and started her career in public accounting at EY.

Seaport Global Securities expands

Tom Schaefer and Andy Taurins have joined the Investment Banking Department of Seaport Global Securities as managing directors and co-heads of the firm's Acquisitions & Divestitures (A&D) practice. Ralph D'Amico has also joined the Investment Banking Department of Seaport as managing director focusing on oil and gas exploration and production and midstream companies. Schaefer has over 20 years of experience. He previously co-founded three E&P companies, managed several oilfield services businesses, and led A&D efforts as an investment banker. He started the A&D practice at Wunderlich Securities, was founder and president of Gulf Bend Resources, and co-founded both Katy Resources and Dorado Exploration. He earned his bachelor's degree from The University of Texas at Austin. Taurins previously served as a founding partner of Lantana Oil & Gas Partners. Prior, he worked with a number of oil and gas industry companies, including Waterous & Co., Breitburn Energy, AGIP, and Tenneco. He earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Texas at Austin. D'Amico has worked as an investment banker in the oil and gas business for the past 20 years and has focused primarily on companies engaged in E&P and midstream. He was most recently employed at Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, and prior to that at Jefferies, Randall & Dewey, Friedman Billings Ramsey and Salomon Smith Barney. D'Amico earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Maryland and his MBA from George Washington University.

Rice Energy makes board changes

Rice Energy Inc. has appointed Dr. Kate Jackson to its board of directors. She will serve on the Nominating and Governance Committee and the Compensation Committee. Dr. Jackson most recently served as the senior vice president and chief technology officer of RTI International Metals. Previously, Dr. Jackson served as the chief technology officer and senior vice president of strategy, research and technology at Westinghouse Electric Company. She holds an MS and PhD in Engineering and Public Policy from Carnegie Mellon University. Scott A. Gieselman resigned as a member of Rice Energy's board of directors, effective April 4, 2017. Gieselman is a partner of Natural Gas Partners and has served as a director for Rice Energy since 2013.

Allen joins Flotek as SVP

Danielle Allen has joined Flotek Industries Inc. as senior vice president of global communications and technology commercialization. She will direct the global marketing and communications function, while also leading the go-to-market strategy for Flotek's specialty chemical products and services. Allen previously served as executive vice president and general manager of Edelman's Houston office. Her experience spans public affairs, grassroots/advocacy management, B2B marketing, crisis communication and corporate reputation management. Allen began her career on Capitol Hill, where she served as communications director for US Congressman Max Sandlin. Allen will serve on Flotek's executive leadership team.