The West Virginia Oil and Natural Gas Association (WVONGA) has hired Anne C. Blankenship as executive director. An energy attorney at Babst Calland‘s Charleston office, Blankenship has nearly 15 years of experience working in the industry. She previously served as WVONGA’s chief counsel. The appointment ends a search that was launched by the organization’s board of directors to replace Nicholas “Corky” DeMarco, who died unexpectedly in July. Babst Calland works on behalf of the industry throughout the Appalachian Basin. Blankenship “has a deep background in law and environmental regulations and is a skilled communicator,” said board President Maribeth Anderson. Blankenship starts the new job on Nov. 28.

Marty Durbin, executive director for market development at the American Petroleum Institute (API), will assume a new, expanded role as the trade association’s executive vice president and chief strategy officer, API said. Durbin, formerly head of America’s Natural Gas Alliance (ANGA), oversaw the merger of ANGA and API, which became effective Jan. 1, 2016, API said. Durbin became ANGA CEO in 2013 and previously worked as API’s executive vice president for a short time under API CEO Jack Gerard. Also on Monday, API announced that Louis Finkel, API executive vice president for government affairs, is leaving API to pursue other opportunities.