Career civil servant Gaetan Caron has been appointed chair and CEO of the National Energy Board. Caron, previously vice-chair of the board, replaces Kenneth Vollman who retired in June. The NEB is a federal agency created in 1959 to regulate international and interprovincial aspects of the oil, gas and electricity utility industries.
The Alberta government has appointed a new chair for the Energy and Utilities Board (EUB), the provincial energy regulator. William Tilleman is a Calgary lawyer and former chair of the Environmental Appeals Board. He replaces the retiring Neil McCrank. Recruitment is underway for the new chairs of the Energy Resources Conservation Board and Alberta Utilities Commission, the bodies that will replace the EUB under a bill now before the legislature. Once they are appointed, Tilleman will help wind down the affairs of the EUB after the new regulatory bodies are in place effective Jan. 1, 2008.
Darrell Elliott has taken on three roles with ViRexx Medical Corp. (TSX:VIR, AMEX:REX) - director, chairman of the board and interim CEO. Peter Smetek, the former chairman and interim CEO, will remain as a director. Elliott comes with more than 35 years of experience in merchant banking, venture capital and analogous operating experiences around the world. ViRexx is an Edmonton-based biotech focused on therapeutics for certain cancers and specified chronic viral infections.
Leslie Byle, CFO, is leaving Globel Direct, Inc. (TSXV: GBD) to pursue other opportunities. J.R. Richardson, president and CEO, will assume her responsibilities until the completion of Globel's plan of arrangement. Globel provides business communications services. Its head office is in Calgary.
Kim Booth, VP and COO of U.S. operations, has tendered her resignation from Enterra Energy Trust (TSX:ENT.UN, NYSE:ENT) effective Nov. 1, to pursue other opportunities. She will remain as a consultant for six months. Jim Tyndall, senior VP and COO, will assume direct responsibility for operations of Enterra's U.S. subsidiary, Altex Energy Corp. Enterra is a conventional oil and gas trust based in Calgary, with operations principally in Western Canada and Oklahoma.
WellPoint Systems Inc. (TSXV: WPS), a provider of software and related services for managing operations within the energy industry, has appointed Stephen Massel as its new CFO. Massel was most recently the CFO of Avotus Corp. He replaces Bruce Petrie, who will continue to assist the company on a contract basis. Founded in 1997, Calgary-based WellPoint also has operations in the U.S., Tunisia and Russia.
Copper Fox Metals Inc. (TSXV:CUU) has hired Shane Uren as VP of environment and permitting. Shane is a biologist who brings 10 years of environmental consulting experience in Canada and overseas. He comes to Copper Fox from Rescan Environmental Services Ltd. Copper Fox is a Calgary-based junior miner focused on one mineral property at Schaft Creek in B.C.
CriticalControl Solutions Corp. (TSXV:CCZ) has made some changes to its management team, formalizing a three-year transition process. George Watson has become executive chairman of the board and has relinquished his position as CEO. Alykhan Mamdani, the founder of the company, will remain as president and take on the role of CEO while relinquishing his duties as CFO. Hashu Remtulla, VP and corporate controller, has been promoted to VP and CFO. CriticalControl is a Calgary technology company that builds and manages critical business process solutions.
Sierra Vista Energy Ltd. (TSXV:SVR.A, SVR.B) says Mark Malouin has resigned as president and CEO to pursue other opportunities, and VP Ian Bock has ceased employment with the company. Malouin will continue to serve on the board of directors. Sierra Vista says it is searching for a new president and CEO, but does not expect to hire a replacement for the VP position. Morley Mychaluk, currently executive VP, assumes the role of interim president and CEO. Sierra Vista is a junior oil and gas company focusing on the Peace River Arch region of Alberta. Its corporate office is in Calgary.
Pengrowth Corp., administrator of Pengrowth Energy Trust (TSX:PGF.UN, NYSE:PGH), has named Jim Donihee as VP and chief of staff. Donihee comes with more than 30 years of experience culminating in his most recent position as COO at the National Energy Board. Based in Calgary, Pengrowth Energy Trust is one of the larger energy royalty trusts in North America.
Acceleware Corp. (TSXV:AXE) says Steven Joachims has joined the company as VP of business development. He comes with more than 20 years of experience in the high-performance computing business. Acceleware specializes in special-purpose software/hardware acceleration products. Its head office is in Calgary.
Paramount Energy Trust (TSX:PMT.UN, PMT.DB) has appointed Rick Warters as VP of geoscience and new ventures. Warters most recently held the position of senior VP of exploration at ConocoPhillips Canada. Paramount is a natural gas-focused trust based in Calgary.
Essential Energy Services Trust (TSX:ESN.UN) has hired Don Webster as VP of rig operations. Webster brings 24 years of energy industry experience to the position, most recently as VP of operations for the Canadian subsidiary of a U.S. oil and gas company. Calgary-based Essential provides a range of production services to oil and gas producers across Western Canada.
Darren Wagner has been named Pizza73's VP of operations and development for Western Canada. Wagner previously was with Rentcash Inc. where he was VP of leasing and development. Headquartered in Edmonton, Pizza73 has more than 50 outlets across Western Canada.
-- with files from The Canadian Press