10 Dec 2008 07:00
Nighthawk Energy plc
Directorate Change and Senior Appointment
The directors of Nighthawk Energy plc ("Nighthawk" or "the Company") (AIM: HAWK), the US focused hydrocarbon production and development company, are pleased to announce the appointment of Michael Thomsen, President of Nighthawk's US operations, as Executive Chairman of the Company. In addition, Tim Heeley has been appointed to the non-board position of Commercial Director of Nighthawk. Dr. Roger Norwich, currently Non-Executive Chairman, has stepped down from the board with immediate effect.
Michael Thomsen
Mike has over 30 years' experience in the natural resources industry and has worked in 40 countries on exploration and project acquisition. Until 2002, he was Director of International Exploration at Newmont Mining Company, where he was responsible for an exploration budget in excess of US$30 million per annum. He was previously with US energy producer Freeport-McMoRan Inc. where his work included exploration in the Gulf of Mexico, the Permian Basin of west Texas, the Sinai and Red Sea region of Egypt, the Sergipe Basin offshore Brazil and the Neuquen Basin of western Argentina.
Mike has been President of Nighthawk Royalties LLC and Nighthawk Production LLC, both subsidiaries of the Company, since their formation in 2006. He will continue to run Nighthawk's US operations in addition to his new role.
Tim Heeley
Tim joins Nighthawk with four years of equity and debt experience in the City, most recently as Head of Oil and Gas Research at stockbroker Daniel Stewart & Co. Previously he was Senior Manager of Standard Bank's Oil and Gas team and Senior Oil and Gas Analyst at Panmure Gordon. Prior to working in the City, Tim enjoyed an eight year career in the E&P sector as a project development engineer working with such companies as Shell, BP, Exxon and BG on numerous international hydrocarbon projects. Tim is a Chartered Engineer, a member of the Energy Institute and the Society of Petroleum Engineers.
Managing Director of Nighthawk David Bramhill commented:
"I would like to thank Roger for his input to Nighthawk since its inception. It goes without saying that the board will miss his presence and we all wish him every success with his other ventures.
"Nighthawk is in the transitional phase from development to production on several of its projects. The increased workload requires a full time commitment from senior management to ensure the seamless execution of this transition. As a consequence, the board is delighted to welcome Mike Thomsen, who performs a key role as head of our US operations, as Executive Chairman of the Company.
"The appointment of Tim Heeley is also welcomed. Tim is a well respected analyst in the City and, without doubt, his skills will play a large part in assisting the board to capitalise on the excellent and continuing progress being made by Nighthawk."
Further information on Michael Thomsen
Michael Bernard Thomsen, aged 56, holds 1,000,000 ordinary shares of 0.25p each in the Company ("Ordinary Shares") and options over a further 1,000,000 Ordinary Shares exerciseable at a price of 7p per share between 15 August 2009 and 15 August 2016.
Mr. Thomsen is, or has been within the previous five years, a director of the following companies:
| Current | Previous |
| | |
| Altawind Energy Limited | Oil Quest Resources plc |
| Nighthawk Production LLC | Cambridge Mineral Resources plc |
| Nighthawk Royalties LLC | |
| Oil Quest USA LLC | |
Mr. Thomsen has confirmed that there is no further information to be disclosed in accordance with the requirements of Schedule Two (g) of the AIM Rules.
Enquiries:
| Nighthawk Energy plc David Bramhill | 01271 882160 davidbramhill@nighthawkenergy.net | |
| Hanson Westhouse Limited Tim Feather Matthew Johnson | 0113 246 2610 tim.feather@hansonwesthouse.com matthew.johnson@hansonwesthouse.com | |
| Bishopsgate Communications Limited Nick Rome | 020 7562 3350 nick@bishopsgatecommunications.com | |