Western Oil Sands Inc. (TSX:WTO) has named a reconstituted slate of officers for WesternZagros Resources Ltd. Simon Hatfield has been appointed president of WesternZagros, Greg Stevenson vice-president of finance, and Charles Berard of Macleod Dixon LLP as corporate secretary. Hatfield's career spans 30 years in the international and domestic arenas. Stevenson was previously Western's controller. WesternZagros, a wholly owned subsidiary of WOS, is pursuing conventional oil and gas exploration in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. Calgary-based WOS's primary asset is its 20-per-cent undivided interest in the Athabasca Oil Sands Project.
Goldmark Minerals Ltd. (TSXV:GMK) has seen a change at the top. Gerhard Jacob has resigned as president and a director to pursue other opportunities. The company's chief executive officer, Peter Barker, will assume the responsibilities of president. Goldmark is engaged in the acquisition and exploration of base and precious metal properties in Ecuador, Mexico and Canada. Its head office is in Calgary.
ZCL Composites Inc. (TSX:ZCL) has separated the positions of chief financial officer and VP of finance, and has appointed Darin Coutu as CFO. Bernie Lafferty, who previously held both positions, will continue to serve as VP of finance. Coutu, a CA, was previously executive VP and CFO of Rentcash Inc. ZCL Composites is an underground fibreglass tank manufacturer based in Edmonton.
Gerry Docherty has been appointed to the newly created position of chief operating officer for Good Earth Cafes Ltd., a Calgary-based coffeehouse and bakery chain.
He comes with extensive experience in the world of coffee, food service and franchising. Currently, Good Earth consists of 13 cafes in Calgary, Red Deer and Edmonton.
Craig McKenzie has joined Canadian Superior Energy Inc. (TSX:SNG, AMEX:SNG) as CEO. He takes over from Mike Coolen, who had been interim CEO since June and remains president and chief operating officer. McKenzie was most recently president of BG Trinidad & Tobago, BG Group plc. In other company moves, Canadian Superior's former executive vice-president, Leigh Bilton, has assumed the new position of vice-chairman of the company. Canadian Superior is a Calgary-based oil and gas company with operations offshore Trinidad and Tobago, offshore Nova Scotia and in Western Canada.
Oilexco Incorporated (TSX:OIL) has appointed William Smith as executive VP and general counsel. Smith has practised law for 30 years, the last 20 with McCarthy Tetrault LLP in its Calgary office, where he remains as counsel. He has been a director of Oilexco since 2005. Calgary-based Oilexco is an oil and gas exploration and production company active in the United Kingdom through its wholly owned subsidiary, Oilexco North Sea
Big Rock Brewery Income Trust (TSX:BR.UN) says Timothy Duffin will be resigning from the positions of chief financial officer and VP of finance of Big Rock Brewery Ltd. effective Dec. 31 to pursue other interests. Duffin will provide Big Rock with advisory and consulting services in 2008, as required. The Calgary brewery produces specialty beers.
Don Poruchny has resigned as VP of exploration for Yangarra Resources Ltd. (TSXV:YAN) to pursue other opportunities. Yangarra is a junior oil and gas company based in Calgary with operations in Western Canada.
John Pantazopoulos has joined Petro-Reef Resources Ltd. (TSXV:PER) as VP of finance and CFO. Pantazopoulos served most recently as manager of business development and internal controls at Terra Energy Corp. Robert Maertens-Poole, who had been serving part time as Petro-Reef's CFO, continues to sit on the board of directors. Petro-Reef is a Calgary-based junior oil and gas company.
Genoil Inc. (TSXV:GNO) has made several executive appointments. Hendrik Lombard, CA, CFA, is now CFO. He replaces David Kippen, who has resigned. Lombard had been acting as the company's controller and director of corporate finance since August 2006. Genoil has appointed Monica Bottinger as its new controller. Bottinger comes with more than 15 years of experience in accounting. John Noble has been appointed as the new VP of global sales and marketing for the company's bilge-water treatment system. Noble had joined Genoil in a consulting capacity as a corporate communications adviser and will continue working from the Genoil (USA) Inc. subsidiary. Genoil is an engineering technology development company with its corporate office in Calgary.
Petro Andina Resources Inc. has appointed David Taylor to the position of VP of business development. Taylor was previously VP of exploration and international operations for Husky Energy and VP of exploration for Renaissance Energy prior to the merger of the two companies. Petro Andina is engaged in the exploration for and development and production of oil and natural gas in Argentina and, to a lesser extent, in Canada. The company is headquartered in Calgary.
Global Energy Services Ltd. (TSXV:GLK) says Farhan Farshori has been promoted to VP of corporate development and Clayton Hoffarth has been appointed VP of operations. Farshori previously was Global's business development manager. Hoffarth will continue to serve as chief technical officer. Global Energy Services is an oilfield service company with two segments: Production services and communications solutions. Calgary-based Global was founded in 1994.
Vital Resources Corp. (CNQ:VITL) has named Grant Twanow as VP of exploration and operations and a director. Twanow is a professional petroleum engineer with more than 24 years of experience around the world. Vital Resources is a Calgary-based international junior oil and gas exploration company.
Ted Redmond has been promoted by McCoy Corp. (TSX:MCB) to VP of energy products and services. He joined the company in 2006. Based in Edmonton, McCoy has three operating segments that manufacture and service products for the oil and gas industry.
Randall Yatscoff has retired from his position as president and CEO of Isotechnika Inc. He will remain as a scientific consultant for six months. Yatscoff's retirement coincides with moving the University of Alberta spinoff company from its previous emphasis on research and development to an emphasis on product launch and sales. Robert Foster, Isotechnika's current executive chairman, reassumes the role of CEO in the interim. Edmonton-based Isotechnika Inc. is a biopharm focused on the development of immunosuppressive treatments.
Cross Oilsands Contracting Ltd. has made several executive appointments. Ross MacLean has been appointed COO. MacLean, who will relocate from Denver, will divide his time between the corporate head office in Calgary and operations in Fort McMurray. Most recently he was director of manufacturing and operations optimization for Lafarge N.A. George Winter has been promoted to general manager of Cross. Winter joined the company in 1997 and has assumed increasing responsibility during his tenure. Cross and its predecessor companies have provided contracting services to clients in the Alberta oilsands since 1974.
-- with files from The Canadian Press (E-mail notices and photos at least two weeks before publication date to news@businessedge.ca)
