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.

PacifiCorp announced that Keith McKennon will succeed FredBuckman as Chief Executive Officer. Mr. McKennon is also Chairmanof the Board of PacifiCorp, a position he has held since 1994.Buckman has been PacifiCorp’s CEO since 1994. His decision to leavethe company is the result of his disappointment over shareholderreturn and a desire to pursue other interests. PacifiCorp said thechanges will be effective on September 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. He also served as president of Vickers Inc., an industrialproducts subsidiary company.

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. “Mike’s negotiatingskills were critical to the establishment of our power business andadditional diversifications,” said CEO Branko Terzic, who willresume the post of president.

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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