Rockhopper Exploration plc has recruited former Capricorn Energy chief executive officer Simon Thomson and chief operating officer Paul Mayland to develop its South Falklands assets.
ARRIVALS
Mr Thomson becomes non-executive chairman and Mr Mayland is appointed independent non-executive director (NED), effective 1 October 2023.
Mr Thomson was chief executive officer of Cairn Energy, later renamed Capricorn Energy, from 2011 to 2023, leaving after shareholder calls for the board to resign.
He joined Cairn in 1995 and participated in and led multiple international corporate transactions, gaining experience in international arbitrations and legal disputes including the US$1.2 billion from the Indian Government.
Rockhopper senior independent director Alison Baker said Mr Thomson’s experience would be of use, among its other projects, for the company’s arbitration over the Ombrina Mare dispute in Italy.
Paul Mayland is a chartered engineer with more than 30 years’ experience in the oil and gas industry, including with BG Group and Vermillion Energy.
He was most recently chief operating officer with Capricorn for more than 10 years, when he also left in April 2023.
Mr Mayland has a proven track record in the upstream energy industry, having directly overseen five final investment decisions (FIDs) while at Cairn alone, including three FPSO projects, one platform and one subsea tieback.
DEPARTURES
On 30 September, non-executive chairman Keith Lough who was also previously on the Capricorn board and NED John Summers will leave the board after nine years.
“We would also like to thank Keith and John for their significant contributions to Rockhopper and the board,” added Ms Baker.
“Their input and guidance has been invaluable through some challenging times for the group and we wish them every success with their future endeavours.”