Resigned

Avista Corp.’s outgoing CEO is resigned to the fact that 2007 will be a “repositioning” year for the company, which sold its money-losing energy marketing/trading unit and saw its utility operations hindered by a combination of adverse weather and regulatory lag impacts. Nevertheless, the Spokane, WA-based company reported profits for the second quarter of $14.2 million, or 26 cents/diluted share, compared with $13.5 million, or 27 cents/diluted share, for the same period last year.

BP plc CEO John Browne abruptly resigned Tuesday after a British court removed an injunction that had prevented a newspaper group from publishing stories about his personal life. Tony Hayward, slated to move into the top spot this summer, was named CEO effective immediately.

Kathleen Clarke, the first woman to head the Interior Department’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM), resigned Thursday after five years as director to return to her home state of Utah. Clarke took over the agency leadership in January 2002.

Brent J. Smolik, currently president of ConocoPhillips Canada, will take over as president of El Paso Exploration & Production Co. on Nov. 1, replacing Lisa Stewart, who resigned in August. Smolik earned a bachelor’s degree in petroleum engineering from Texas A&M University in 1983 and worked for ARCO as a drilling and reservoir engineer. In 1990, he joined Burlington Resources as a reservoir engineer and acquisition coordinator. He went on to hold engineering supervisory and management positions in the Denver, Offshore, San Juan and Gulf Coast Divisions. He then served as vice president, chief engineer in Houston until relocating to Calgary in 2004, where he became president of Burlington Resources Canada. Following the merger in March, he remained in Calgary and became president of ConocoPhillips Canada.

Brent J. Smolik, currently president of ConocoPhillips Canada, will take over as president of El Paso Exploration & Production Co. on Nov. 1, replacing Lisa Stewart, who resigned in August (see Daily GPI, Aug. 4). Smolik earned a bachelor’s degree in petroleum engineering from Texas A&M University in 1983 and worked for ARCO as a drilling and reservoir engineer. In 1990, he joined Burlington Resources as a reservoir engineer and acquisition coordinator. He went on to hold engineering supervisory and management positions in the Denver, Offshore, San Juan and Gulf Coast Divisions. He then served as vice president, chief engineer in Houston until relocating to Calgary in 2004, where he became president of Burlington Resources Canada. Following the merger in March, he remained in Calgary and became president of ConocoPhillips Canada.

The chief executive of Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex) resigned last Monday following rumors of a possible scandal involving payouts for personal healthcare and housing loans without seeking approval from the state-controlled oil monopoly. Raul Munoz Leos, 65, will be replaced by Luis Ramirez Corzo, director general of exploration and production (E&P) since 2001.

The chief executive of Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex) resigned on Monday following rumors of a possible scandal involving payouts for personal healthcare and housing loans without seeking approval from the state-controlled oil monopoly. Raul Munoz Leos, 65, will be replaced by Luis Ramirez Corzo, director general of exploration and production (E&P) since 2001.

The chief executive of Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex) resigned on Monday following rumors of a possible scandal involving payouts for personal healthcare and housing loans without seeking approval from the state-controlled oil monopoly. Raul Munoz Leos, 65, will be replaced by Luis Ramirez Corzo, director general of exploration and production (E&P) since 2001.

Resigned to the fact that crude was hogging the spotlight Wednesday, September natural gas futures puttered around within an 11-cent range ahead of their expiration Friday.