Lee K. Boothby, 47, has been named president at Newfield Exploration Co. The board of directors also expects to name Boothby as CEO at the company’s annual meeting in May. Boothby would succeed David A. Trice, 60, who plans to retire in May. Trice is up for reelection to the board at the annual meeting and if elected, he would serve a one-year term as nonexecutive chairman to assist in the transition. Boothby joined Newfield nearly 10 years ago and most recently served as senior vice president of acquisitions and business development. From February 2002 to October 2007 Boothby was president of the company’s Midcontinent division, and he guided early development of the Woodford Shale play. Newfield plans to name Gary D. Packer, 46, as COO in May. Packer joined Newfield in 1995 and currently serves as president of Newfield’s Rocky Mountain division. Trice, one of Newfield’s 23 founders in 1989, had expected to retire in May 2008, but he extended his tenure following the death of Newfield President David F. Schaible, who died in late 2007. “I have been fortunate to have a great team of managers to work with and a staff of talented people who continue to make this a special place,” said Trice.

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger promoted Karen Douglas, 34, to chair the California Energy Commission (CEC) and named Julia Levin, 45, to the panel. The CEC sites power plants and oversees state-funded energy efficiency/conservation programs. Douglas served for three years as director of the California Climate Initiative at Environmental Defense (2005-2008) before being appointed to the CEC in 2008. Levin is former global warming director for the National Audubon Society. Appointing Douglas to head the CEC requires confirmation by the state Senate.

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