appointment of new chief executive, page-2

Web address: www.hdr.com.au email: [email protected]
Hardman Resources Limited is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Simon Potter as its new
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Managing Director, with immediate effect.
Mr Potter joins Hardman Resources from BP, and most recently, the joint venture (JV) operation
between BP and Alfa Group in Russia, TNK-BP. As Chairman or CEO of a group of Russian
subsidiary companies, Mr Potter had overall charge of the Orenburg/Saratov division of the JV, a
group of 150 fields between the Volga and the Russian border with Kazakhstan, which collectively
produce 330,000 barrels per day. These companies refine 150,000 barrels per day and operate some
65 oil drilling rigs.
Alan Burns, Chairman and founder of Hardman Resources, commented:
“The Board is pleased to have secured Simon as CEO and Managing Director to lead our next growth
phase. His appointment follows the Board’s decision to conduct an extensive search and interview
process among candidates of international calibre across the oil and gas industry. Simon’s skills and
contacts make a strong fit with Hardman’s broad growth and expansion ambitions.
“On behalf of the Board, I should like to give our full thanks to Scott Spencer, Executive Director, for
his thorough and effective stewardship of the company’s affairs for a considerable period.”
Simon Potter, CEO and Managing Director, Hardman Resources, commented:
“I am very pleased to be joining Hardman Resources. The company has strong core operating assets,
an entrepreneurial spirit and a track record of delivering value growth for shareholders. I look forward
to working with my new colleagues to build on this record and to enhance the company’s growth
profile in the coming years.”
Enquiries:
Scott Spencer
Dean Richardson
Hardman Resources Limited
Telephone: +61 8 9261 7600
Patrick Handley
James Crampton
Phoebe Buckland
Brunswick Group LLP Telephone: +44 20 7404 5959
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Notes to Editors:
1. Simon Potter - Biography
Simon Potter, 47, brings to the posts of CEO and Managing Director of Hardman Resources a broad
range of international oil industry experience in both commercial and technical operations. He first
qualified with a BSc in Geology from the Royal School of Mines, Imperial College, London. His
professional career began as a geologist in the Copperbelt in Zambia. Simon subsequently completed
an MBA at Imperial College and then embarked upon a 20-year career with BP.
Simon began at BP in international business development, negotiating leases and contracts covering a
broad international spectrum from the North Sea to the Middle East, Asia and Africa in both oil and
gas. From 1991 to 1995 Simon was Business Development Manager, based in Melbourne, covering
BP’s Asian interests. These included the North West Shelf project where he gained first-hand
experience as a partner in a Woodside-operated JV. Following his role in Australia, Simon managed
increasingly more complex operations offshore in the UK North Sea, Alaska, Indonesia and latterly
Russia.
Prior to his role in TNK-BP, Simon was President and CEO of BP’s LNG JV operating company in
Indonesia – VICO. VICO produces 1,200 TJ/day (1.2 bcf/day) and acts as the Technical Advisor to
the seven-train Bontang LNG plant.
In addition to these roles, Simon completed the Executive programme at Stanford University in 1999
and served as Executive Assistant to the CEO of BP Exploration in 1996/97.
Simon is a British national and will be resident in Perth with Monique and their two children who are
Australian. Simon’s sporting interests include rugby union and rowing; he has represented Zambia in
rugby and the UK in rowing.
Summary Contract Details
• Five year term
• Base salary: A$700,000
• Superannuation at statutory minimum
• Participation in an annual bonus scheme that may deliver additional cash payments with a target
payout of 50% of salary, based on performance measured against criteria to be determined by
the Remuneration Committee and approved by Board. To be determined.
• Participation in a long term incentive scheme targeted to deliver rewards based on performance
measured against criteria to be determined by the Remuneration Committee and approved by
Board but to include comparative performance against peer E&P companies. To be determined.
• Sign-on and loyalty incentives to be paid in cash and based on the movement in the Company’s
share price over certain defined periods.
SCOTT SPENCER
DIRECTOR