T. J. Glauthier, associate director of natural resources, energyand science at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB),reportedly is being considered as the successor to Deputy EnergySecretary Elizabeth Moler. Moler, former chair at FERC, is expectedto leave the Department of Energy once Energy Secretary BillRichardson, who was just sworn in, becomes more familiar with hisjob, possibly sometime in early fall. Linda Ricci, a spokesman forOMB, declined to comment on the report.

Seagull Energy’s board has elected James T. Hackett as its newpresident and CEO, and its future chairman. Hackett, 44, has beenpresident of Duke’s Energy Services Division. Prior to that he wasexecutive vice president of PanEnergy. He will succeed Barry J.Galt, who has been chairman and CEO since 1983. Galt will continueto serve as chairman for the remainder of the year before beingelected vice chairman, at which time Hackett will assume theadditional position of chairman. Hackett said he looks forward tothe opportunity. Seagull “has a good management team, a solidbalance sheet and a strong collection of domestic and internationalassets.” Hackett has held a variety of positions in finance,marketing and engineering in the exploration and production andmidstream sectors of the industry for Amoco, Burlington Resourcesand NGC Corp. (now Dynegy). Subsequently, Seagull announced John W.Elias resigned as executive vice president and a director. Elias,who joined Seagull in 1993, supervised the company’s domestic andinternational oil and gas operations.

Valero Energy announced its President Ed Benninger will retireDec. 31 after more than 20 years with the company. “This is areally difficult announcement for me to make because Ed has alwaysbeen my ‘right hand’ since Valero was first formed,” said ChairmanBill Greehey. “In fact, Ed played a key role in the creation of thecompany because between 1975 and 1980, he helped direct thespin-off of LoVaca Gathering from Coastal States Gas, whichresulted in the creation of Valero Energy on Jan. 1, 1980.” In1996, Benninger was promoted to president and headed up the $1.5billion spin-off/merger with PG&ampE Corp.

PacifiCorp announced that Keith McKennon will succeed FredBuckman as CEO. McKennon is also Chairman of the Board ofPacifiCorp, a position he has held since 1994. Prior to joiningPacifiCorp, McKennon was an executive of Dow Chemical and DowCorning, and retired from Dow in 1994. Buckman has beenPacifiCorp’s CEO since 1994. His decision to leave the company isthe result of his disappointment over shareholder return and adesire to pursue other interests. The change will be effectiveSept. 1.

KN Energy named John H. Weber president and chief operatingofficer. He will report to Larry Hall, KN Energy chairman and CEO,and serve as a member of the company’s senior management team.Weber, 42, most recently was executive vice president forAeroquip-Vickers Inc., a Toledo, OH-based company specializing inthe design, manufacture and distribution of engineered componentsand systems for global industrial, aerospace and automotivemarkets.

Yankee Energy announced Michael E. Bielonko, president of YankeeEnergy Services, has resigned. The resignation follows thecompany’s decision to shift its focus from the power business toheating ventilation and air conditioning. Bielonko was formerlychief financial officer of YES prior to assuming the role aspresident of YESCo. He led the company into its firstdiversification investment with the acquisition of BVA CoGen, Inc.in 1996, a company in the power production business. “Mike’snegotiating skills were critical to the establishment of our powerbusiness and additional diversifications,” said CEO Branko Terzic,who will resume the post of president.

Western Resources announced Douglas T. Lake, senior managingdirector of Bear Stearns &amp Co., has been elected executive vicepresident and chief strategic officer for Western. Lake will headall corporate development, corporate strategy and internationalbusiness operations. Since 1995, Lake has been with Bear Stearnsas a senior investment banker working with clients in the energy,utility and environmental services industries. He also has heldleadership positions with Dillon Read &amp Co., and SalomonBrothers Inc.

Tom Brown announced the hiring of Damon Button as chieffinancial officer and executive vice president. Button, 45, hasbeen chief financial officer and vice president of Aquila GasPipeline since 1990 and was employed by Clajon Gas Co. and ClajonHolding, L.P. , predecessors to Aquila Gas Pipeline Corporation)from 1980 to 1990.

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