Neptune Energy to ring in the new year with new CEO

Oil and gas company Neptune Energy has revealed the name of its new chief executive officer (CEO), who will take over the role at the beginning of next year after the current one retires at the end of the month.

Neptune Energy reported on Friday that Jim House would retire from his role as CEO and from the firm’s board on 31 December 2021. House will be succeeded by Pete Jones, who currently serves as Neptune’s VP Operations, Europe. Jones will join Neptune’s board on 1 January 2022.

Sam Laidlaw, Neptune Executive Chairman, commented: “On behalf of the board, I would like to pay tribute to the outstanding contribution that Jim has made in building Neptune on such solid foundations. He has played a formative role in delivering the growth potential we now enjoy. Pete brings a wealth of experience and energy as we enter a period of growth in both production and new energy opportunities.”

House will be leaving Neptune after four years of playing a formative role in building the business, following its acquisition of ENGIE E&P International, overseeing significant improvements in safety, operational efficiency and reserves and resources.

“I am immensely proud of what Neptune has achieved in the last four years. We have created an excellent team and a leading portfolio that has solid foundations upon which to deliver our ambitious growth plans. I am delighted to now hand the baton to Pete to drive Neptune even further forward as we meet the challenges of securing vital energy supplies through the energy transition,” stated House.

Jones, who has more than 25 years of experience in the upstream sector – including as Managing Director of TAQA Europe and UK Managing Director and Regional Vice President of Marathon Oil – joined Neptune in August 2018 as Managing Director for the UK, before taking up the role of VP Operations, Europe, in October 2019.

“Neptune would not be the business it is today without Jim’s drive, determination and guidance. I am excited by the opportunities Neptune has as a result and look forward to working with the team to realise them. Neptune was set up for the energy transition and I am excited by our pipeline of lower carbon developments that will see us play an increasingly important role,” remarked Jones.

In recent news, Neptune Energy extended a contract for Odfjell Drilling’s rig to include three additional wells in the Norwegian North Sea next year.

The rig is currently drilling the production wells at the Neptune-operated Fenja field in the Norwegian Sea, where final drilling operations started in late October 2021.