U.S.-based Devon Energy Corporation has announced changes in its top executive suite.
John Richels, 52, has been promoted to president after serving as senior vice- president, then president and CEO of Devon’s wholly owned Canadian subsidiary, based in Calgary.
Christopher Seasons, 43, will now move into Richels’ seat from his spot as executive vice-president of Canadian operations.
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| File photo by David Lazarowych, Business Edge |
Richels first came on board Devon in 1998 following its acquisition of Calgary-based oil and gas producer Northstar Energy. Prior to that, he had served as Northstar’s executive vice-president and chief financial officer.
“In his years as president of Devon’s Canadian subsidiary, an operation with over $6 billion in total assets, John has established a proven track record of successfully leading a large organization,” noted J. Larry Nichols, chairman and CEO of Devon.
Richels has also been a managing partner and chief operating partner of law firm Bennett Jones.
Devon Energy Corp., based in Oklahoma City, is the largest U.S.-based independent oil and gas producer, and one of the largest independent processors of natural gas and natural gas liquids in North America.
Dr. David Kinniburgh has been named to the newly created position of vice- president of laboratory operations for Edmonton-based Isotechnika Inc.
Kinniburgh joined Isotechnika in August 2002 as director of diagnostics development and analytical services, and subsequently became senior director.
Prior to that, he was vice-president and director of technical operations with Dynacare Kasper Medical Laboratories. He is a certified clinical chemist, toxicologist, and an active member and officer of many scientific societies. Isotechnika Inc. is an international biopharmaceutical company.
Brian Bickley has been named the new chair of the Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training Board.
Bickley, industrial relations manager for Syncrude Canada Ltd., served as a member of the provincial board from 1995 to 2001. He has more than 30 years of industry experience. He replaces outgoing chair Cliff Williams.
His appointment was recently announced by Lyle Oberg, the Alberta government’s minister of learning.
Bickley is involved with the Construction Owners Association of Alberta (COAA), and is chair of COAA’s workforce development co-ordinating committee. He also chairs the Alberta Aboriginal Apprenticeship Committee.
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| Joe Lund |
Joe Lund is the new president of DeVry Institute of Technology in Calgary.
Lund, an officer with the Canadian military for 21 years, most recently served as national dean for enrolment as well as dean of several other departments. He also served on two North American taskforces working to develop integrated student information systems and freshman learning initiatives.
He replaces outgoing president John Ballheim.
In addition to leading campus operations, Lund will be responsible for building relationships with national and local agencies and Calgary business leaders.
DeVry Institute is a member campus of the DeVry University system and offers a variety of bachelor and diploma programs in technology, business and management through onsite and online learning options.
Kevin Dickson has resigned his post as vice- president of production for Endless Energy Corp. Dickson will continue working as a consultant with the Calgary-based company through his own firm, Dagur Resources Inc.
Ted Hanbury has been appointed vice-president of business development for Calgary-based Argo Energy.
Hanbury has more than 18 years’ experience in the oil and gas industry. He joins Argo (AAE-TSXV) as part of the previously announced take-over of Advantage Energy Corporation.
Over the past four years, Hanbury has worked with the company as an adviser. Prior to that, he was a business unit manager with Rigel Oil & Gas Ltd. after holding various engineering roles at Gulf Canada.
Argo is a Calgary-based junior resource company engaged in the exploration, development and production of natural gas and oil in Alberta.
Deer Creek Energy Limited has a new controller.
Karen Lillejord joins the Calgary-based company with 19 years of oil and gas and public accounting experience in a variety of accounting roles, most recently as manager of corporate reporting and control with AltaGas Services Inc.
She previously spent several years with Nexen Inc., Wascana Energy Inc. and Ernst and Young.
Deer Creek is a Calgary based, privately held oilsands development company with interests in both steam- assisted gravity drainage and mining operations.
Paul Belliveau has been name vice-president of finance and chief financial officer of NAL Resources Management, based in Calgary.
Belliveau has more than 25 years of financial experience. He joined NAL (NAE.UN-TSX) from Alliance Pipeline Ltd., where he was vice- president of finance and CFO. Prior to that, he spent nearly 20 years with Mobil Oil Corporation in various positions in Canada, the United States and Indonesia.
CLARIFICATION: Kevan Kadner has been appointed to the Alberta Real Estate Foundation (AREF). His name was incorrectly spelled in the Moving On column Dec. 18.
(To submit your appointments, corporate changes or photos to this column, send an e-mail to: news@businessedge.ca)
