Steven Farris, chairman, president, and CEO of  Apache Corp. retired last week. He will continue as non-executive chairman of the board until May 1, at which time he will retire from the board. John J. Christmann IV, Apache’s executive vice president and COO for North America, succeeded Farris as president and CEO. Director John Lowe has been elected to succeed Farris as non-executive chairman.

Farris joined Apache in 1988 and has served as its CEO since 2002 and as chairman of the board since 2009. In February 2014, he also assumed the title of president. Farris served the company as president and COO from 1994 to 2009, as senior vice president from 1991 to 1994, and as vice president of exploration and production from 1998 to 1991.

Christmann has been with Apache for 18 years, serving in a variety of leadership roles. Most recently, he was executive vice president and COO for North America. As regional vice president for the Permian region, from 2010 through 2013, he established Apache’s Midland, Texas, office and oversaw a doubling of production during his tenure. From 2004 to 2010, Christmann served as vice president of business development. He also held previous operational positions within Apache, including as production manager in the company’s Gulf Coast region. Prior to joining Apache, Christmann was employed by Vastar Resources/ARCO Oil and Gas Co. in business development, crude oil marketing, and various engineering and operational assignments. He earned his bachelor’s degree in petroleum engineering from the Colorado School of Mines, and his Master of Business Administration degree from Southern Methodist University.

Lowe has been a member of Apache’s board since 2013.  He spent more than 30 years with ConocoPhillips and predecessor firms, where he held a series of executive positions, including executive vice president of exploration and production; executive vice president of commercial; and executive vice president of planning, strategy, and corporate affairs. Lowe is a member of the board of directors for Phillips 66  and Agrium Inc., and a special executive advisor to Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co.   

Source: Oil & Gas Financial Journal