Denver’s Civitas Resources Inc. announced that Hodge Walker has been appointed COO effective April 5, the company said in an April 3 press release.

Civitas President and CEO Chris Doyle lauded Walker as an industry veteran with more than 25 years of experience and a “proven track record of successfully leading teams and driving a culture of operational excellence.”

“I am confident he will help advance our already strong team and our commitment to safe, efficient and responsible operations,” he said.

Walker succeeds Matt Owens as COO.

Walker most recently served as vice president of Chevron Corp.’s Rockies Business Unit, a position he held since October 2020, following Chevron’s acquisition of Noble Energy Inc. for $13 billion.

Previously, Walker served as senior vice president for Noble’s U.S. onshore operations and as a director for Noble Midstream GP. Walker also worked as Noble’s vice president of West Africa and the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, among other roles.

Civitas Resources bills itself as Colorado’s first carbon neutral oil and gas producer with a focus on developing and producing crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids in Colorado’s Denver-Julesburg Basin.