Gregory Vesey has been appointed managing director and CEO of Australia-based Liquefied Natural Gas Ltd., which, among other projects, is developing liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminals in Louisiana and Nova Scotia (see Daily GPI, Feb. 8; Nov. 13, 2015). Vesey succeeds company founder Maurice Brand, who will remain executive director until retirement by June 2017. Vesey was previously president of Chevron Natural Gas and vice president of gas supply and trading from 2011 to 2015. He was responsible for Chevron’s global LNG, natural gas and natural gas liquids marketing and trading activity.

Wayne Nastri, former Region IX Administrator at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), was named as the acting executive director of the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD). Nastri signed a six-month contract to head the 800-employee, $137 million budget, four-county regional air pollution regulator while its 13-member board undertakes a national search for a permanent chief executive. The SCAQMD board earlier this year fired long-time employee and 19-year executive director Barry Wallerstein, despite pleas from environmentalists who characterized the move as a political act by pro-industry board members. Nastri was the regional EPA Administrator from 2001 to early 2009. He also previously served on the SCAQMD board (1997-98) as an appointee of then-Gov. Pete Wilson.