Thompson named to Pioneer board

Ken Thompson, formerly with ARCO, has joined the board of directors of Pioneer Natural Resources Co.

Pioneer said Aug. 31 that Thompson will serve as an independent director under the board’s appointment for a term that expires at Pioneer’s 2014 annual shareholder meeting.

From 1974 to 2000, Thompson worked for ARCO in various technical and management roles with responsibilities in many of the regions in which Pioneer operates. Thompson was ARCO’s executive vice president of Asia-Pacific operations; chairman, president and chief executive officer of ARCO Alaska; and head of ARCO’s oil and gas research technology center.

Thompson is currently president and CEO of Pacific Star Energy, a private energy investment firm, and managing director for Alaska Venture Capital Group, a private oil and gas exploration firm.

Thompson holds Bachelor of Science and honorary professional degrees in petroleum engineering from Missouri University of Science & Technology.

“We are honored that Ken has agreed to join our Board of Directors,” Scott D. Sheffield, Pioneer’s Chairman and CEO, said in a statement. “Ken brings substantial knowledge of our industry with his extensive oil and gas experience leading operations in many of our core areas and managing many related disciplines including strategic planning, engineering, environmental, risk management, safety and regulatory compliance. These strengths complement the expertise currently represented on the board,” Sheffield said.

Thompson also serves as a director of Alaska Air Group, Inc., Coeur d’Alene Mines Corp. and Tetra Tech Inc.

Pioneer is a large independent oil and gas exploration and production company, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, with operations primarily in the United States.

—Petroleum News