Gulf Keystone Petroleum Regulatory News (GKP)

7 Jan 2008 13:18

Gulf Keystone Petroleum Ld07 January 2008 Not for release, publication or distribution in or into jurisdictions other than the United Kingdom and Bermuda where to do so would constitute a contravention of the relevant laws of such jurisdiction GULF KEYSTONE PETROLEUM LIMITED ("Gulf Keystone" or "the Company") Board Change Gulf Keystone Petroleum (AIM: GKP), an independent oil & gas exploration companyoperating in Algeria and the Kurdish Region of Iraq, today announces theappointment of Mr. Mehdi Varzi as a non-executive director of the Company withimmediate effect. Mr. Varzi (age 62), who has joint Iranian and British nationality, is a graduatein Economics from the London School of Economics & Political Science and holdsan MA from the School of Oriental and African Studies, London University. He began his professional career with the National Iranian Oil Company in 1968before joining the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1972. During his nineyears at the Ministry, Mr Varzi held a number of positions culminating in a fouryear posting as a Diplomat at the Iranian Embassy in Ankara, Turkey. In 1982 Mr Varzi joined stockbrokers Grieveson Grant & co., in London as an OilConsultant with special emphasis on OPEC and the world market. Following themerger in 1986 between Grieveson Grant and the then Kleinwort Benson, whichsubsequently became Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein (DrKW), Mr Varzi held anumber of positions, culminating in the position of Managing Director, Oil & GasResearch. Following his retirement from full-time employment in 2001, he wasretained as Senior Energy Consultant - a position which he held until 2005 whenhe left DrKW. In 2001, Mr. Varzi established an independent global energyconsultancy, Varzi Energy, which advises a number of leading internationalfinancial institutions on global oil and gas developments. From 1999 until 2002 Mr. Varzi also served as a Member of the InternationalAdvisory Panel of Nippon Oil. In 2003, he joined the Board of Sonoran Energy asa non-Executive Director and in 2005 he was appointed Director of Global MacroEnergy Research and Middle Eastern Affairs at Trinity Funds. Mr Varzi served asadviser to the chairman of Turcas Petrol in 2006. He is also a regular speakerat international energy conferences. Mr. Todd Kozel, Executive Chairman, Gulf Keystone, commented, "I am delighted that Mehdi Varzi is joining Gulf Keystone. Mehdi hasconsiderable experience in the international oil and gas industry and willsignificantly strengthen our Board. I look forward to his wise counsel as weseek to continue our growth strategy." Save for the declarations below there are no updated disclosures to be made inrespect of the appointment of Mr. Varzi under rule 17 and under Schedule 2paragraph (g) of the AIM rules. Current Directorships Company Date of AppointmentTrinity Funds October 2005Sonoran Energy December 2003 Past Directorships Company Date of ResignationDresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein May 2005 Enquiries Gulf Keystone Petroleum: +44 (0) 20 7514 1400Todd Kozel, Executive Chairman Hoare Govett Limited: +44 (0) 20 7678 8000Andrew Foster Tristone: +44 (0) 207 399 2470Simon Ashby-Rudd Citigate Dewe Rogerson: +44 (0) 20 7638 9571Media: Martin JacksonAnalysts: Kate Delahunty or visit: www.gulfkeystone.com This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange