Succeeding

The Senate Thursday unanimously confirmed Ernest J. Moniz as the next secretary of the Department of Energy (DOE), succeeding Steven Chu, who oversaw the department during President Obama’s first term.

Al Walker, president and CEO of Anadarko Petroleum Corp., has been elected chairman of the board effective May 14. He is succeeding Jim Hackett, who is retiring as executive chairman in June. Hackett, who was named executive chairman in May, had been CEO since 2003 and chairman since January 2006. Hackett also served as president from December 2003 to February 2010. Walker joined Anadarko in 2005 as senior vice president and CFO, and he also was formerly COO. In connection with Walker’s election, and “consistent with industry best practices,” the board has enhanced the duties of the lead director to ensure that Anadarko “maintains a corporate governance structure with appropriate independence.”

North America’s natural gas producers lately have been taking a licking but Encana Corp. is succeeding by continuing to optimize its portfolio and its operations, an executive said last week.

North America’s natural gas producers lately have been taking a licking but Encana Corp. is succeeding by continuing to optimize its portfolio and its operations, an executive said this week.

Steven Schoenfeld, a long-time futures trader, has been named director of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s Division of Market Oversight (DMO), succeeding Richard Shilts. Shilts, who has been DMO director since February 2006 and at the CFTC since 1974, will now become deputy director. Schoenfeld currently is president of consulting firm Global Index Strategies. Prior to Global Index, Schoenfeld was chief investment officer of Global Quantitative Management at Northern Trust; managing director at Barclays Global Investors; investment officer at the International Finance Corp./World Bank; and a futures trader at the Singapore Exchange. He has worked with futures and stock exchanges worldwide, including Tokyo, Paris, London, Hong Kong, Tel Aviv, Bangkok and Budapest. He will be moving to Washington, DC, from New York. The DMO handles the designation of new markets, the review of new futures and option products, the monitoring for and detection of market manipulation, and the protection of customers from market abuses.

Lamar McKay, a veteran of U.S. oil company Amoco, as been appointed chairman and president of BP America, succeeding Robert A. (Bob) Malone who has elected to retire after 34 years with the company. McKay, a member of the BP plc executive management team, has led the company’s Special Projects Team since early 2008. In that capacity, he played a major role in establishing a new governance model for TNK-BP, BP’s Russian joint venture. Prior to that assignment, he served as executive vice president and COO for BP America and brings deep knowledge of BP’s U.S. operations to his new position, the company announcement said. McKay joined Amoco Production Co. as a petroleum engineer in 1980 and later served in a variety of operating and commercial roles. During his career he has led upstream production businesses in the Arkoma Basin, the Gulf of Mexico and the North Sea. After working on the BP-Amoco merger, he led BP’s worldwide exploration and production strategy efforts followed by a posting as chief of staff for the company’s global exploration and production business. Prior to his first assignment with BP America, he served as group vice president for BP’s Russia and Kazakhstan operations.

Lamar McKay, a veteran of U.S. oil company Amoco, as been appointed chairman and president of BP America, succeeding Robert A. (Bob) Malone who has elected to retire after 34 years with the company. McKay, a member of the BP p.l.c. executive management team, has led the company’s Special Projects Team since early 2008. In that capacity, he played a major role in establishing a new governance model for TNK-BP, BP’s Russian joint venture. Prior to that assignment, he served as executive vice president and COO for BP America and brings deep knowledge of BP’s U.S. operations to his new position, the company announcement said. McKay joined Amoco Production Co. as a petroleum engineer in 1980 and later served in a variety of operating and commercial roles. During his career he has led upstream production businesses in the Arkoma Basin, the Gulf of Mexico and the North Sea. After working on the BP-Amoco merger, he led BP’s worldwide exploration and production strategy efforts followed by a posting as chief of staff for the company’s global exploration and production business. Prior to his first assignment with BP America, he served as group vice president for Russia and Kazakhstan.

Enterprise GP Holdings LP has elected Ralph S. Cunningham as president and CEO, succeeding Michael A. Creel, who will take over as CEO and president of Enterprise Products Partners LP effective Aug. 1. Cunningham was named interim CEO after Robert G. Phillips resigned (see Daily GPI, May 9). Cunningham also was elected to serve as a director of the general partner of Enterprise GP Holdings and Duncan Energy Partners LP. Cunningham has been COO of the general partner since 2005. Creel has been CFO of the partnership since 2000. In addition, W. Randall Fowler was named CFO, and William Ordemann was elected COO of the shared services group.

Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX) last Thursday was approved by unanimous consent as the new chairman of the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee, succeeding Rep. W.J. “Billy” Tauzin (R-LA) who relinquished the top spot in mid-February.