Chairman

Kevin McIntyre, an attorney with Jones Day who has served as co-head of the law firm’s global energy practice, was sworn in as FERC chairman Thursday morning, bringing the regulatory panel to its full strength of five members.

Kevin McIntyre, an attorney with Jones Day who has served as co-head of the law firm’s global energy practice, was sworn in as FERC chairman Thursday morning, bringing the regulatory panel to its full strength of five members.

Whiting Petroleum Corp.has named Brad Holly, 46, president and CEO effective Nov. 1. Holly until earlier in October was Anadarko Petroleum Corp.’s executive vice president, U.S. onshore exploration and production. The appointment coincides with the planned retirement of James J. Volker, 70, who joined Whiting in 1983 and has been president/CEO since 2002. Since taking the helm Volker has established Denver-based Whiting as a top operator in the Bakken Shale and Niobrara formations; the company produced more than 112,000 boe/din 2Q2017. Volker will assume the role of executive chairman until the end of the year and then become non-executive chairman until the 2018 annual meetings, at which time Holly is to become chairman. Holly began his career in 1994 with Amoco and joined Anadarko in 1997 as a reservoir engineer. He holds a bachelor of science in petroleum engineering from Texas Tech University and is a graduate of the Harvard Business School Advanced Management Program.

Former Pennsylvania state utility commissioner Robert Powelson was officially sworn in as the third commissioner — and the quorum-maker — at FERC Thursday, earlier than some agency onlookers were expecting.

Former Pennsylvania state utility commissioner Robert Powelson was officially sworn in as the third commissioner — and the quorum-maker — at FERC Thursday, earlier than some agency onlookers were expecting.

Baker Hughes Inc., which is to become a unit of General Electric Co. (GE) once theirestimated $32 billion merger is completed, said current GE Oil & Gas chief Lorenzo Simonelli will become CEO/president. GE CEO Jeff Immelt will serve as chairman of Baker with current Chairman/CEO Martin Craighead as vice chairman. Other executives tapped for the GE unit include CFO Brian Worrell; Maria Claudia Borras, CEO/president, oilfield services; Belgacem Chariag, chief global operations officer; Rod Christie, CEO/president, turbomachinery/process systems; Harry Elsinga, chief human resources officer; Jennifer Hartsock, chief information officer; Matthias Heilmann, CEO/president, digital solutions; Jack Hinton, chief health, safety, environment officer; Nicola Jannis, chief business development officer; Derek Mathieson, chief marketing/technology officer; Jody Markopoulos, chief engineering/supply chain officer; Will Marsh, chief legal officer; Neil Saunders, CEO/president oilfield equipment; and Uwem Ukpong, chief integration officer. The company, with dual headquarters in Houston and London, is to have operations in more than 120 countries and 70,000 employees.

Halliburton Co. President Jeff Miller will add CEO to his title effective June 1, succeeding Dave Lesar, who is continuing as executive chairman. Miller, who already serves on the board, joined Halliburton in 1997 and formerly was COO. He holds a bachelor of science in agriculture and business from McNeese State University in Louisiana and a master’s degree from Texas A&M University. Lesar, who has been chairman and CEO since 2000, plans as executive chairman to focus on the company’s strategic direction and be actively engaged with shareholders and customers. Lesar, who joined Halliburton in 1993, entered into an executive employment agreement that provides that he will continue as executive chairman until mandatory retirement on Dec. 31, 2018; it also contains a four-year noncompete agreement. “I have known and worked with Jeff for almost 30 years and have great confidence that he is the best choice to be the next Halliburton CEO,” Lesar said.

The continuing lack of a quorum at FERC and the White House’s failure to have made any nominations to the Commission in the more than three months since President Trump took office is frustrating, according to Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Chairman Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Ranking Member Maria Cantwell (D-WA).

Colette Honorable, who has served at FERC since late 2014, announced late Friday that she will leave the Commission when her term expires at the end of next month, a move that would leave the already quorumless panel with a single member — Acting Chairman Cheryl LaFleur.