Resigned

Longtime energy executive Rebecca A. McDonald has resigned from her spot on Noble Energy’s board of directors in order to accept a position as president of gas and power for Australian-based BHP Billiton, a large diversified resources company that includes petroleum exploration and production operations. The company was the second highest bidder in the Minerals Management Service’s Central Gulf Lease Sale 190 on Wednesday (see related story).

One day after Anadarko Petroleum Corp. President and CEO John Seitz resigned unexpectedly from his positions, analysts were scratching their heads looking for an explanation. The news came as a shock because it coincided with an energetic and optimistic investor webcast earlier in the month, which was met with positive reactions from some notable analysts.

Ronald Kuehn, recently named chairman and CEO of El Paso Corp., has resigned from Transocean Inc., effective Monday. Kuehn apparently told Transocean management that his resignation would allow him to devote additional time to his El Paso duties. He said the move also would avoid the appearance of conflicts of interest that could arise with the recent appointment of J. Michael Talbert, Transocean’s chairman. Kuehn had served on the offshore drilling contractor’s board and its predecessor companies since 1975.

One day after Anadarko Petroleum Corp. President and CEO John Seitz resigned unexpectedly from his positions, analysts were scratching their heads looking for an explanation. The news came as a shock because it coincided with an energetic and optimistic investor webcast late last week and positive reactions from some notable analysts.

Dynegy Inc.’s chief administrative officer and chief communications officer both have resigned, but the company said they will work as part-time consultants for the next few months. Milton Scott, who was in charge of administrating human resources, risk management and insurance, and Deborah Fiorito, in charge of the company’s communications, quit in mid-September, but have agreed to provide consulting services to the company over the coming months “as we continue to make adjustments to the business and focus our efforts on the remaining elements of our capital and liquidity plan,” said a spokesman. Scott, a certified public accountant, had worked for Dynegy since 1999, and for 22 years, he worked in the Houston office of Arthur Andersen, where he was partner-in-charge of the Southwest region technology and communications practice. Fiorito joined Dynegy in May 2000. Previously, she was senior vice president at Chase Bank of Texas. Dynegy said it is considering combining the job positions into a single position at a later date.

Former Enron executive Mario Max Yzaguirre, who recently resigned as president of Enron de Mexico, has been named by Texas Gov. Rick Perry to fill the spot vacated by Judy Walsh on the three-member Texas Public Utilities Commission. Perry still has one spot to fill after former Chairman Pat Wood III was named to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

Walt Rosenbusch, a native of Austin, TX, has been appointeddirector of the Minerals Management Service, succeeding CynthiaQuarterman who resigned in February. Rosenbusch takes office May17. Since July, 1996 he has worked as a senior tax manager forErnst & Young’s Houston Energy Service Team. Prior to thatRosenbusch was with the U.S. Dept. of Interior in the land andminerals management area, working to resolve royalty issuesinvolving on- and offshore leasing. He had worked in the TexasGeneral Land Office where he was responsible for the management andadministration of 13.5 million mineral acres.

Citing a difference of opinion with the board of directors overstrategy, Branko Terzic resigned as chairman, president and CEO ofYankee Energy System based in Meriden, CT.

Arthur L. Smith resigned as chairman and CEO of Torch EnergyAdvisors Inc. effective immediately. Smith joined the Houston-basedcompany June 1, 1998 from John S. Herold Inc. Torch PresidentKenneth E. White Jr. said the board of employee-owned Torch andSmith “concluded that their operational and strategic differenceswould best be resolved by going in separate directions.” Torchintends to focus on providing outsourcing services and capital tothe upstream oil and gas industry. Smith plans to focus his effortson personal energy investments in North America, the company said.Torch founder J.P. Bryan became senior managing director.