Former Marcellus Shale Coalition (MSC) chairman David Spigelmyer has been named as the organization’s president following a two-month search process, MSC said Tuesday.

Spigelmyer was elected MSC chairman in 2011 and was re-elected last year (see Shale Daily, Dec. 7, 2012). He was vice president of Chesapeake Energy Corp.’s Appalachia division but left the company earlier this year, prompting his replacement as chairman of MSC by Consol Energy Inc. COO Randy Albert in August (see Shale Daily, Aug. 29).

“While our industry has accomplished a great deal for the entire Commonwealth and for our nation over the past several years, big challenges remain on the horizon. And after undertaking an exhaustive executive search process, which included many highly-qualified candidates, it was clear to our board that Dave is the right individual at the right time to lead our organization,” Albert said.

Prior to Chesapeake, Spigelmyer served in similar roles at EQT Corp. and Dominion Resources.

“Safe shale development has been one of the most transformative turning points in our Commonwealth’s history,” Spigelmyer said. “Led by Pennsylvania’s natural gas industry and a robust and diverse membership of the MSC, we can and will have energy security, job growth, and environmental protection — without a false choice among any of the three. It is our collective responsibility to make certain that we continue to get this historic opportunity right, now and for generations to come, and we will deliver this message to stakeholders at all levels in a positive and fact-based manner.”

Kathryn Klaber, who had helmed the industry-led MSC as CEO for almost four years, announced in July that she was stepping down (see Shale Daily, July 29).

Members of the MSC work with partners across the region to address issues with local, state and federal regulators, government officials and communities about all aspects of producing gas from the Marcellus Shale.