A major senior management change is under way at big Bakken producer Continental Resources. Effective June 4, Jeff Hume, the company’s president and chief operating officer, will assume the role of vice chairman of strategic growth initiatives; in turn, Rick Bott will replace Hume as president and chief operating officer.
The transition, Oklahoma City-based Continental said in a May 14 press release, reflects the company’s “high rate of growth and continued focus on exploration and oil production.”
“As we grow the company and add shareholder value, we continue to build out a world-class management team,” said Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Harold Hamm. “Jeff and I have worked together for 29 years. He has done an outstanding job as president and has been integral to Continental’s success. In his new role, he will provide valuable leadership on issues that have increasing impact on our success as the company rapidly grows in size and scope.”
Bott most recently served as executive director and chief operating officer of Cairn India Ltd., a publicly listed company and member of the Nifty Fifty of the India National Stock Exchange.
He has more than 27 years of global exploration and production experience leading integrated organizations, developing new business and focusing on cross-cultural leadership development, Continental said in its release.
Earlier, Bott served in Devon Energy’s international division, where he was a vice president responsible for developing and implementing exploration strategy.
He was also president of Ocean Egypt Cos. and Ocean Yemen Corp., and held a number of international management and technical positions with British Gas and Tenneco.
“We are thrilled to round out our executive team with someone of Rick Bott’s caliber. He is a geologist who shares my passion for oil exploration. His extensive experience will enable Continental to deliver on key company objectives. Cairn India is a world-class leader in oil development, and under his leadership, Cairn India increased oil production from 65,000 barrels of oil per day to 175,000 bopd,” Hamm said.
“It has been my good fortune to have worked in a number of companies that have capitalized on the strength of a talented work force, built world-class assets and applied innovative technologies and visionary leadership. I see these same factors coming together at Continental Resources, and I feel privileged to join this cohesive organization with solid financials and am excited about helping to achieve real growth and long-term shareholder value,” Bott was quoted as saying the press release.
—Petroleum News Bakken
