PPC.L Regulatory News (PPC)

4 Apr 2007 07:01

Meridian Petroleum PLC04 April 2007 4 April 2007 Meridian Petroleum plc ("Meridian" or the "Company") Appointment of Stephen Gutteridge, Non-Executive Chairman Meridian Petroleum plc (AIM: MRP) the oil and gas exploration and productioncompany with assets in the United States and Australia, today announces thatStephen Gutteridge has been appointed to the Board of Directors as Non-ExecutiveChairman with immediate effect. He replaces Donald Caldwell, who remains on theBoard as a non-executive director. Mr Gutteridge has spent over 30 years working in the oil and gas industry,working with companies including Shell, Amerada Hess, International PetroleumExchange (now ICE Futures), Star Energy Group, and the Council for RegisteredGas Installers (CORGI). He has held numerous directorships, including Chairman,Chief Executive, Executive and Non-Executive roles, and has had been involvedwith UK regulatory bodies including the Financial Services Authority and Ofgem. He currently holds the following positions: Chairman of Star Energy Group plc,the UK's second largest onshore oil and gas producer; Chairman of East SurreyCollege, an 11,000-student further education college; and an independentconsultant to Marwyn Investments Group, a London-based corporate finance andfund management business. Mr. Gutteridge has confirmed that there are no further disclosures requiredunder Schedule 2 paragraph (g) of the AIM Rules, and that he has no shareholdingin the Company. Anthony J. Mason, Chief Executive Officer of Meridian Petroleum plc comments: "In welcoming Stephen Gutteridge, Meridian further strengthens the business andmanagerial acumen of the board. Stephen's background in the oil and gas industrywill support Meridian's efforts to increase the Company's value and profile." Ends For further information contact: Meridian Petroleum Plc Ambrian Partners Parkgreen CommunicationsTony Mason Neil Mac Lachlan Simon Robinson Richard Brown Victoria Thomas00 1 713-599-1611 +44 (0) 20 7776 6400 +44 (0) 20 78517480 About Meridian Meridian is an oil and gas exploration and production company with key assets inthe United States and Australia. Meridian is quoted on the AIM market of theLondon Stock Exchange (ticker: MRP), and is headquartered in London, withoffices in Houston, Texas and Adelaide, Australia. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange