Goodbye Brent

Horizon chief steps down

Brent Emmett to leave Australian company after 16 years at the helm
Russell Searancke

29 Jun 2018 00:58 GMT

Brent Emmett is bringing down the curtain on Friday on a 16-year period as chief executive of Australian independent Horizon Oil.
He began as chief executive in 2002 when the company was called Bligh Oil. Emmett and a new board sold most of Bligh’s assets, but retained holdings in PNG and China.
It later acquired an interest in the Maari asset in New Zealand, and generates production there and in the Beibu Gulf project offshore China.
The company's claim to fame is the position it has created in Papua New Guinea's Western Province with interests in fields including Stanley, Elevala-Ketu, Ubuntu, Puk Puk and Douglas.
Horizon is the driver behind the proposed Western LNG project.
“The value of Brent’s immense contribution to Horizon Oil can’t be overstated,” Horizon Oil chairman John Humphrey said.
“Brent has always exhibited great leadership, especially in the last couple of years in the testing times that followed the dramatic fall in world oil prices and the subsequent and successful restructuring of the company’s debt.
"Brent leaves us at a time when Horizon Oil is well positioned to progress commercialisation of the company’s significant resource base in PNG.”
He is being replaced, with effect from 30 June, by Michael Sheridan who has been Horizon's chief financial officer and company secretary since 2003.
Horizon is also bidding farewell to Alan Fernie, the general manager for exploration and development, who is also retiring from 30 June.
Richard Beament will assume the role of chief financial officer, while Andrew McArdle will assume the role of chief operating officer.
Kylie Quinlivan will be appointed as general counsel and company secretary.