Range Resources Corp. President Jeffrey L. Ventura is slated to become CEO of the company Jan. 1 when current CEO John H. Pinkerton will become executive chairman, the Marcellus Shale-focused producer said. Ventura, 53, is also the company’s current COO. He has been with Range since 2003 and was elected a director in 2005. Ventura has 32 years of industry experience and holds a bachelor’s degree in petroleum and natural gas engineering from Pennsylvania State University. Pinkerton has been CEO since 1992. Analysts at Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co. said the management shift may “dampen” expectations in the near term that Range could merge with another player or be acquired, “but high-return assets are always desirable, especially given [Range’s] Marcellus position.”

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