[Editor's note: A version of this story appears in the September 2020 edition of E&P Plus. Subscribe to the magazine here.]  

PEOPLE

Kjetel Digre has been appointed CEO of Aker Solutions.

Aera Energy LLC’s President and CEO Christina Sistrunk has elected to retire, effective Oct. 1. Succeeding Sistrunk will be Erik Bartsch, currently the vice president of Safety and Environment, Integrated Gas and New Energies with Shell. As part of his transition into Aera, Bartsch will initially assume the role of COO and CEO designee. On Oct. 1, he will become Aera’s fourth president and CEO.

Cold Bore Technology Inc. announced that Brett Chell, the company  co-founder and president, has assumed the role of CEO. Former CEO Blair Layton has moved to the role of CFO.

After Sanchez Energy Corp. emerged from its financial restructuring and Chapter 11 as privately held Mesquite Energy Inc., Cameron W. George was appointed interim CEO, executive vice president and CFO. In addition, the company’s board of directors comprises Nathan H. Van Duzer, Wilson B. Handler and Harry F. Quarls.

In connection with CARBO Ceramics Chapter 11 emergence, Don Conkle has been promoted to CEO. He joined the company in 2012 as the vice president of sales and marketing and has 34 years of leadership and industry experience.

Contango Oil & Gas Co. has promoted Farley Dakan to president. Wilkie Colyer, previously Contango’s president and CEO, will continue serving as CEO. Additionally, Chad Roller  has been appointed senior vice president and COO, while Chad McLawhorn will serve as senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary of the company.

Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy has named Beatriz Puente CFO, effective Dec. 1. Lars Bondo Krogsgaard and Juan Gutiérrez have been appointed CEOs of the Onshore and Service business units, respectively. Gutiérrez assumed his new role Aug. 15, and Krogsgaard will join Siemens Gamesa on Nov. 1.

Tallgrass Energy has named Crystal Heter COO. Comet Ridge Ltd. has appointed Phil Hicks CFO. Flotek Industries Inc. has welcomed Michael E. Borton as CFO.

Forum Energy Technologies Inc. has named D. Lyle Williams Jr. executive vice president and CFO. He will succeed Pablo G. Mercado, who has resigned to pursue other opportunities. Additionally, Neal Lux has been named executive vice president of operations.

Andrew Conway has joined tech firm Xergy as CTO, leading the Proteus development team in Karachi, Pakistan. Conway’s appointment comes two months after Nigel Filer joined Xergy as an investor and CEO. Xergy also has appointed Scott Michie business development director.

McDermott International Ltd. has appointed Tareq Kawash senior vice president for its Europe, Middle East and Africa region.

Xodus Group has appointed Alexander Thillerup U.S. renewables vice president. He will head up a new office in Boston as the company looks to grow its off- shore wind services across North America. Thillerup will be supported by Jamie MacDonald, who is relocating from Xodus’ headquarters in Aberdeen, U.K., to take up the position of director of operations.

AqualisBraemar has promoted John Harris to regional managing director of the South- east Asia region.

Vacuworx has welcomed Charlie Cunningham as senior director of sales.

Gillian King, vice president of Europe, Russia, Commonwealth of Independent States and the Africa region with Tendeka, has joined the board of the Oil and Gas Technology Center.

Martin Oetjen has been appointed to the executive board of MAN Energy Solutions. He will be responsible for the Supply Chain and Production division. Oetjen has already been responsible for the Supply Chain role since January 2020 as chief representative of the company.

West Texas Resources Inc. has appointed Danilo Cacciamatta to the company’s board of directors.

GeoPark Ltd. has named Sylvia Escovar Gomez an independent member of the board of directors.

COMPANIES

BluEnergy is a new company committed to enabling oil and gas companies to leverage their existing asset base to create low carbon energy streams.

Rovco, the provider of ROV services to the offshore energy industry, has opened a new office and operational base in Edinburgh, Scotland, to serve its current portfolio of offshore renewable and energy projects.

OleumTech has opened a new office in Midland, Texas, which will primarily serve as a training facility to accommodate and support customers in the region.

Xodus Group has opened a new office in Boston, as the company looks to grow its offshore wind services across North America.

JDR, a global subsea cable supplier and servicer, has begun construction of a new U.S. headquarters in Tomball, Texas.

Kværner ASA and Aker Solutions ASA have entered into a merger plan, whereby the two entities will join forces to create a new supplier company focused on low-carbon oil and gas production and accelerating growth in renewable energy industries. The name of the new company will be Aker Solutions ASA.

Kongsberg Digital has acquired COACH Solutions, a supplier of software solutions for vessel performance and monitoring. The new company will be named KONGSBERG COACH Solutions.