UK's Serica Energy names Chris Cox as new chief executive

May 14 (Reuters) - British oil and gas producer Serica Energy named Christopher Cox as its new chief executive on Tuesday, completing a new lineup of its top management team.

Cox, who has over 40 years of industry experience and is currently a non-executive director of Nostrum Oil & Gas , will take the helm on July 1, replacing Mitch Flegg who left last month after six years in the top role.

Shares in the company were up 0.4% after the announcement.

The company said Cox, 63, previously held top roles in Spirit Energy, Capricorn Energy and Kellas Midstream.

Serica, which has expanded production sharply through acquisitions and investments in recent years, also replaced its chairman and chief financial officer in the past year.

Tony Craven Walker, a pioneer of British North Sea oil, stepped down as chairman last June after 18 years in the role and was succeeded by David Latin. Experienced oil and gas adviser Martin Copeland succeeded Andy Bell as CFO.

Serica said Latin will drop interim CEO duties once Cox takes over.

Latin said Cox was a good fit with Serica's ambitions to grow through acquisitions due to "his track record in leadership and teambuilding as CEO of substantial upstream entities operating in multiple geographies including the UK and Norway."

Last month, Serica said it was seeking opportunities elsewhere in the North Sea, particularly Norway, after it reported a sharp drop in profit last year. (Reporting by Yamini Kalia and Deep Vakil in Bengaluru; Editing by Nivedita Bhattacharjee, Varun H K and Susan Fenton)