(July 22, 2019) PJM Interconnection today announced the appointment of Nigeria Poole Bloczynski as its chief risk officer.

Preng & Associates assisted PJM Interconnection in its search.

As PJM’s CRO, Bloczynski will oversee all aspects of PJM’s risk function, including credit and collateral policies, market surveillance, monitoring of market-participant behavior, and both qualitative and quantitative analytics. The Risk and Audit Committee of the PJM Board of Managers will oversee Bloczynski, who joins the company July 29.

This elevated, board-level oversight reflects PJM’s objective to further instill the importance of risk management throughout the organization.

Bloczynski will coordinate all enterprise risk management operations, including identifying risks to the organization and defining appropriate mitigating controls.

“I am thrilled to be welcoming Nigeria to PJM,” said Interim President and CEO Susan J. Riley. “She brings a depth of knowledge and experience in this important area that I am confident will serve our organization and stakeholders well.”

Bloczynski has worked for more than 20 years in commodity and credit risk management in both the financial and energy markets, most recently as director of commodity and corporate risk management for Washington, D.C.-based WGL Holdings, Inc., whose companies include Washington Gas, WGL Energy, WGL Midstream and Hampshire Gas.

She serves on the board of directors of the Committee of Chief Risk Officers, the national nonprofit organization that advances best practices in the risk management field. Bloczynski holds a B.S. in mathematics from Morgan State University and an M.B.A. from Johns Hopkins University.

PJM Interconnection, founded in 1927, ensures the reliability of the high-voltage electric power system serving 65 million people in all or parts of Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia. PJM coordinates and directs the operation of the region’s transmission grid, which includes over 84,236 miles of transmission lines; administers a competitive wholesale electricity market; and plans regional transmission expansion improvements to maintain grid reliability and relieve congestion. PJM’s regional grid and market operations produce annual savings of $2.8 billion to $3.1 billion. For the latest news about PJM, visit PJM Inside Lines at insidelines.pjm.com.

SOURCE PJM Interconnection

Related Links
http://www.pjm.com

(July 10, 2019) Occidental Petroleum Corporation (NYSE:OXY) announced today that Robert “Bob” M. Shearer, a former managing director of BlackRock Advisors LLC, has been elected to its Board of Directors. Preng & Associates assisted Occidental in its search.

Mr. Shearer, 64, has over 35 years of experience in securities and leading investment management firms. Before retiring from BlackRock in 2017, he was co-head of BlackRock’s Equity Dividend team and a member of the Fundamental Equity Platform within BlackRock’s Portfolio Management Group. Mr. Shearer was also the portfolio manager for both the BlackRock Equity Dividend Fund and Natural Resources Trust, which grew from $500 million to over $50 billion under his leadership. Previously, he managed the Merrill Lynch World Natural Resources Portfolio for Merrill Lynch Investment Managers, which merged with BlackRock in 2006. Mr. Shearer has also held senior leadership roles at David L. Babson & Company, Concert Capital Management and Fiduciary Trust Company International. As a senior research officer for Citicorp Investment Management, he focused on the oil industry, including exploration and production, pipelines and oil field services.

“With more than three decades of experience, Bob has a track record of creating significant value for investors with a focus on high-quality, dividend-growth stocks,” said Gene L. Batchelder, Chairman of the Board. “We are committed to growing our dividend as part our long-term strategy, and Bob’s industry knowledge and management expertise will be a great addition to our Board.”

“Occidental’s reputation for innovation and operational excellence and its strategy for sustainability set it apart in the industry,” Mr. Shearer said. “I am confident in Occidental’s ability to deliver on its long-term business strategy of industry-leading returns and returning capital to shareholders, and I look forward to supporting this commitment as a member of the Board of Directors.”

Mr. Shearer holds an undergraduate degree in Economics from the University of Wisconsin, as well as a Master of International Management from the Thunderbird School of Global Management and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst.

About Occidental

Occidental is an international oil and gas exploration and production company with operations in the United States, Middle East and Latin America. Headquartered in Houston, Occidental is one of the largest U.S. oil and gas companies, based on equity market capitalization. Occidental’s midstream and marketing segment purchases, markets, gathers, processes, transports and stores hydrocarbons and other commodities. The company’s wholly owned subsidiary OxyChem manufactures and markets basic chemicals and vinyls. Occidental posts or provides links to important information on its website at oxy.com.

Contacts:

Media:
Melissa E. Schoeb
713-366-5615
melissa_schoeb@oxy.com

or

Investors:
Jeff Alvarez
713-215-7864
jeff_alvarez@oxy.com

(Feb. 25, 2019) Delek US Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: DK) today announced the appointment of Vicky Sutil to the Board of Directors effective February 19, 2019. Preng & Associates assisted in the search.

“We are pleased to welcome Vicky to our board. Her experience in the refining and midstream industries, with a background that includes marketing, operations, financial management and business development, will provide us with invaluable insights and further enhance our growth strategy,” said Uzi Yemin, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Delek US Holdings.

Ms. Sutil has over 30 years of experience in the petroleum and refining industry. She is currently working with SK E&P Company focusing on strategic planning. She worked with California Resources as vice president of commercial analysis for CRC Marketing, Inc. from 2014 to 2016. From 2000 to 2014 she worked with Occidental Petroleum Corporation in different capacities including roles in corporate development and financial planning. Ms. Sutil also served as Occidental’s representative on the Board of Plains All American Pipeline from 2010 to 2015 and on the Board of Plains GP Holdings, L.P. from 2013 to 2015. She began her career with Mobil Oil Corporation and also worked with Arco Products Company

Our President & Founder, David Preng, discusses our search capabilities for Fortune Magazine.

Preng & Associates is proud to have sponsored the 2018 Forty Under 40 for the Oil and Gas Investor Journal. We congratulate the honorees!

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Preng & Associates, the world’s leading executive search firm totally dedicated to the energy industry, today announced Steve Raben joined the firm as a Senior Consultant. He will be based in the Houston office.

Mr. Raben has led over 500 domestic and international client assignments for public and private Oil & Gas, Petroleum Equipment, Service and Hydrocarbon Processing & Transportation companies, at the Board, C-Suite and business segment leadership levels. 

He joins Preng & Associates after a 30-year career in the search industry where he held leadership positions at three well-known executive search firms. Most recently, he founded and managed his own consultancy.

David Preng, President of Preng & Associates, said: “For 35 years, our practice has been built on the premise that the search process is most effective when conducted by professionals with significant industry experience. Steve’s extensive knowledge and expertise in the global energy industry is a tremendous asset to our firm and our clients. We’re excited to welcome him to the team.”

Raben said: “Preng & Associates client service, from London and Houston offices, includes conducting over 3,500 assignments with the majority completed in 90 days or less. Our consultants have previous employment with energy companies, such as:  Ladd Petroleum, BHP, Shell, KBR, McDermott, Hamilton Bros., and a successful private equity E&P company. They excel in finding leadership overlooked or unknown to many competitors.” 

Mr. Raben is a retired Military Intelligence Officer with decorated combat service in Viet Nam. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in (Economics and Business) from Southwestern University and completed courses toward a Master’s degree in Economics at The University of Texas. He is a Director of The Coronado Club (Houston) and Trustee of Southwestern University.

About Preng & Associates

Preng & Associates is the world’s leading executive search firm totally dedicated to the energy industry. For 35 years, Preng & Associates has assisted nearly 700 management teams and Boards attain exceptional talent who have delivered long-term value.

Preng & Associates President, David Preng, appeared on Fox Business News Opening Bell to discuss unintended consequences of the so-called U.S./OPEC market share battle, and how current management teams and boards are managing through the current commodity cycle.