Sound Energy PLC (LON:SOU), the gas development company with assets in Italy and Morocco, has strengthened the management team ahead of what chief executive James Parsons has described as “pivotal time” for the company.
Sound has recruited Brian Mitchener as executive vice president of exploration. He has 35 years at BG (LON:BG.) , where he was regional general manager as well as previously working for Statoil and BP.
Meanwhile, Leonardo Spicci, formerly Sound’s managing director in Italy, will assume the role of executive vice president of development and production, but will be based in the UK.
Business development director Leonardo Salvadori will assume Spicci’s previous role.
The appointments are aimed at “strengthening the technical leadership”, Sound said in a statement.
The rejig comes at the point where the company is preparing to drill a second well on the Tendara acreage in Morocco with the aim of proving the huge potential of the asset.
At the same time the countdown to drilling has begun on the firm’s second “strategic” and possibly transformational play in Italy, a well called Badile.
“This strengthening of our leadership strikes a balance between staffing for success in Morocco and maintaining a low cost base whilst keeping the existing tight-knit team together,” said chief executive Parsons.