Will Giraud has officially stepped into his new role as COO of Concho Resources Inc. (NYSE: CXO) following the retirement of Joe Wright, the Permian Basin producer said Jan. 3.

From L to R: Joe Wright, executive vice president and COO; and Will Giraud, executive vice president.

Concho, which announced a slew of other leadership changes, also said Brenda Schroer had been promoted to CFO.

Wright, who has been with Concho since its formation in 2004 and also held positions at the company’s predecessors, first announced his intention to retire in May 2017. As a result, Concho appointed Giraud, the company’s executive vice president responsible for Concho’s asset teams, business development and strategy, as Wright’s successor.

Giraud has been with Concho since 2009 after beginning his career practicing corporate and securities law at Vinson & Elkins LLP.

Tim Leach, Concho’s chairman and CEO, said in a statement on Jan. 3: “Will brings the right talents and strong leadership experience to the COO role as we focus on building the E&P company for the future, providing prudent growth per share, improving corporate returns and initiating capital returns to shareholders through the cycles.”

During Wright’s time with Concho, the company has amassed an acreage position in the Permian Basin spanning nearly one million gross acres including in core operating areas such as the New Mexico Shelf, Delaware Basin and Midland Basin. He will continue to serve on Concho’s board of directors following his retirement as COO.

Concho said Schroer’s appointment as senior vice president, CFO and treasurer is effective immediately. She will assume the CFO role from Jack Harper, who will continue to serve as the company’s president.

Brenda Schroer, Concho’s newly appointed senior vice president, CFO and treasurer.

Schroer joined Concho in 2013 following 14 years at Ernst & Young. She started at Concho as vice president and chief accounting officer and later was promoted to her most recent position as the company’s senior vice president, chief accounting officer and treasurer.

The remaining new leadership appointments Concho announced on Jan. 3 include:

  • Price Moncrief, currently senior vice president of finance and strategy, has been appointed senior vice president of corporate development and midstream;
  • Clay Bateman, currently vice president of New Mexico, has been promoted to senior vice president of assets and will be responsible for Concho’s asset teams with the vice presidents for those teams reporting to him;
  • Keith Corbett, currently vice president of Texas, has been promoted to senior vice president of corporate engineering and planning and will be responsible for corporate reservoir engineering and strategic planning;
  • Scott Kidwell, currently vice president of government affairs, has been promoted to senior vice president of administration, overseeing Concho’s government affairs and human resources organizations;
  • Jeff Gasch, currently Delaware Basin business unit manager, has been promoted to vice president of Delaware Basin;
  • Jacob Gobar, currently financial accounting controller, has been promoted to vice president and chief accounting officer;
  • Aaron Hunter, currently Midland Basin business unit manager, has been promoted to vice president of Midland Basin; and
  • Jere Thompson, currently finance director, has been promoted to vice president of planning.

Separately, Steve Guthrie, senior vice president of business operations and engineering, announced his intention to retire from Concho at year-end 2019 after 14 years with the company. Guthrie will serve as a special adviser to the Concho until his retirement.

Lastly, Chris Gatjanis has been appointed vice president of completions. Gatjanis, who previously served as vice president of the Permian Basin for Halliburton Co. (NYSE: HAL), will join Concho in February.