Oilex Ltd is pleased to announce the appointment of Roland Wessel as Chief Executive Officer and as a Director of the Company, effective 16 June 2021. Roland's appointment is a significant addition to the Oilex senior management team, and the Board of Directors believe he will play an instrumental role in leading the Company through a new and ambitious growth phase.
Roland is a geologist with 45 years' experience in all of the world's major oil and gas regions. Roland founded and built Star Energy, the UK onshore operator of 25 oil and gas fields, through to its listing on AIM in 2004 and its sale to Petronas in 2008. During its evolution, Star Energy grew rapidly through acquisitions and diversification, culminating in it becoming a major gas storage developer and operator. Throughout his career, Roland has founded and managed a drilling services company and has developed and patented several key oilfied technologies. He has extensive experience in both project and corporate management. Roland aims to bring further growth and innovation to Oilex with an initial emphasis on generating strong cash flows from the Company's Cambay gas field and expanding Oilex's UK interests.
Roland and the Board believe in the crucial ongoing role that natural gas will play in the energy transition as part of a mix of energy sources required over the next 30 years. Roland will seek to transform Oilex into a carbon-neutral company with carbon capture and storage (CCS) being one future area of focus.
Joe Salomon, the current Managing Director and interim Chairman, will assume the position of Executive Chairman for an interim period before moving to a Non-Executive Chairman role, concurrent to Roland Wessel's appointment, thus providing continuity for the Company's projects in India and the UK. Joe and Roland are supported on the Board by a CFO, and two independent Non-Executive Directors.
Oilex's Managing Director, Mr Joe Salomon, said: "We are very pleased that Roland has joined Oilex to lead the Company through the next phase of its development. Roland's background is a perfect fit to take the Company forward in its key operational areas and his breadth of experience brings additional capabilities to the Company. I look forward to working closely with Roland as we move into a new exciting phase of Oilex's growth."
