USA: ConocoPhillips Announces New Appointments as Part of Future Restructuring

ConocoPhillips yesterday announced announced several future appointments to the  management teams of the two energy companies that will be created when ConocoPhillips completes its strategic repositioning, expected in the second quarter of 2012.

The new ConocoPhillips will be an independent, pure-play exploration and production company. Phillips 66, the independent downstream company, will have leading businesses in refining, marketing, midstream and chemicals. The designated chief executive officers for each company are creating new leadership teams to support the independent companies.

Ryan Lance, designated chairman and chief executive officer of the future ConocoPhillips, has selected three members of his executive management team.

Matt Fox will become executive vice president, exploration and production. Fox is a former president of ConocoPhillips Canada. He has held senior positions for ConocoPhillips in its Canadian Oil Sands, U.K., U.S. and Middle East divisions. Most recently, he was executive vice president, international, for Nexen Inc. Fox has a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, and a master’s degree in petroleum engineering.

Alan J. Hirshberg will become executive vice president, technology and projects. Hirshberg is currently senior vice president, planning and strategy, for ConocoPhillips. He has also held executive positions at ExxonMobil, overseeing production operations and major development projects in the U.S., Europe, Africa, and Central and Southeast Asia. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering.

Don E. Wallette Jr. will become executive vice president, business development and commercial. Wallette is currently president, Asia Pacific, for ConocoPhillips. He has also held senior positions for ConocoPhillips in the U.S., U.K., Norway, Russia and Caspian divisions. Wallette has a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering.

Fox will join ConocoPhillips in January 2012 and serve in an interim role, reporting to Lance, until the repositioning is complete. Hirshberg and Wallette will continue in their current positions until the transaction is finalized.

Greg Garland, designated chairman and chief executive officer of Phillips 66, has named a member of his executive management team.

Lawrence M. Ziemba will become executive vice president, refining with responsibility for major projects and procurement. Ziemba is currently president, global refining, for ConocoPhillips. He has served in a number of downstream and refining executive positions for ConocoPhillips, its predecessor Phillips, Tosco and Unocal. He has a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and a master’s degree in business administration.

Ziemba will continue in his current role until the repositioning is complete.

Additional executive management positions for the two companies will be announced at a later date.

As previously announced, ConocoPhillips Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jim Mulva plans to retire once the repositioning is complete. Two other current executives plan to retire:

E.L. (Gene) Batchelder, senior vice president and chief administrative officer.

W.C.W. Chiang, senior vice president, refining, marketing, transportation and commercial.

Batchelder and Chiang will remain in their current roles until the repositioning is complete.

ConocoPhillips’ repositioning into two independent companies is subject to market conditions, customary regulatory approvals, the receipt of an affirmative ruling from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, the execution of separation and intercompany agreements and final board approval.

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Offshore Energy Today Staff , November 22, 2011; Image: ConocoPhillips