Rockhopper Exploration has made a pair of staff additions with Simon Thomson and Paul Mayland joining the company.
From 1 October 2023, Simon Thomson will become non-executive chairman, while Paul Mayland will take up the role of independent non-executive director.
Simon is a highly experienced oil and gas executive, the company said in its press release. He served as CEO of Cairn Energy from 2011 to 2023, having joined Cairn in 1995. During his tenure as CEO, Thomson participated in and led multiple international corporate transactions, and deliver substantial cash returns to shareholders generated from organic growth opportunities. , Rockhopper added.
Rockhopper’s statement notes that Thomson also has significant experience in successfully leading complex international arbitrations and legal disputes, including successfully raising $1.2 billion in association with a dispute with the Government of India.
Mayland is a chartered engineer with over 30 years of experience in the oil and gas industry, including working with BG Group and Vermillion Energy, and most recently with Cairn, where he held the position of Chief Operating Officer for over ten years, before leaving in April. 2023, Rockhopper said.
According to Rockhopper, Mayland has a proven track record in the upstream energy industry, having directly overseen five final investment decisions at Cairn alone, including three FPSO projects, one platform and a subsea support.
As previously notified, Keith Lough, non-executive chairman, and John Summers, non-executive director, will step down from their respective positions on the board, in line with good corporate governance, after having served for more than nine years. Keith and John will formally leave the Board on September 30, 2023, Rockhopper confirmed.
“On behalf of the board, I would like to welcome Simon and Paul to Rockhopper, both of whom bring a wealth of highly relevant experience to the team. We look forward to drawing on Simon’s experience in relation to our ongoing Umbrina arbitration Mare, and Paul’s expertise in securing FID for offshore energy projects,” commented Alison Baker, Senior Independent Director at Rockhopper.
“I am delighted to be joining the Rockhopper team at an exciting time for the group. I am looking forward to working with the team and our partner, Navitas, to further advance the Sea Lion project and to achieve a successful result in Umbrina Mare arbitration,” commented Simon Thomson, incoming chairman.
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