Houston, Tx., USA - June 10, 2013, Houston, Tx., USA - Gastar Exploration Ltd., a natural gas and oil exploration company, announces that it has named Michael McCown as senior vice president and chief operating officer.
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Mr. McCown joined Gastar in 2009 originally as a Senior Advisor and since July 2010 as Vice President – Northeast. Mr. McCown is responsible for all operational activities on the company's Marcellus Shale assets. Prior to joining Gastar, Mr. McCown held various positions with CDX Gas LLC., predecessor to Vitruvian Exploration LLC., including Chief Operating Officer, Senior Vice President and General Manager.
Mr. McCown has more than 30 years experience in production, drilling and operations throughout the United States in the Unitah, Permian and Appalachian Basins. His experience includes managerial responsibilities for companies including Pennzoil, Devon Energy, East Resources and EOG Resources.
He has served two terms on the Board of WV Oil and Natural Gas Association and is a former President of that association. He is currently serving his second term on the Board of the Independent Oil and Gas Association of West Virginia and was appointed President of the association effective August 2010.
Mr. McCown holds a bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from Ohio University and is a Registered Professional Petroleum Engineer.
In addition, Michael A. Gerlich will continue as Gastar's Chief Financial Officer and has been promoted to Senior Vice President.
Mr. Gerlich joined Gastar in May 2005 as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Gerlich has more than 30 years of natural gas and oil accounting and finance experience. From 1999 until joining Gastar, he held various accounting and finance positions at Calpine Natural Gas LP, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Calpine Corporation, an independent electric power generation company.
His last position at Calpine Natural Gas LP was Senior Vice President – Accounting and Finance, for the natural gas and oil operations of the wholly-owned subsidiary. From 1994 until 1999, Mr. Gerlich served as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Sheridan Energy, Inc, an independent natural gas and oil exploration company traded on the NASDAQ, which was acquired in 1999 by Calpine Corporation.
Over a 12-year period prior to joining Sheridan Energy, Mr. Gerlich held various accounting and finance positions with Trinity Resources, Ltd., an independent natural gas and oil exploration and production company, with his last position being Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. ■