Sterling Resources transitions to a new Chief Executive Officer
CALGARY, March 18 /CNW/ - Sterling Resources Ltd. (TSX-V: SLG) ("Sterling" or the "Company") has accepted Stewart Gibson's desire to step down from the role of CEO and is pleased to announce the appointment of Mike Azancot as the Company's next President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Gibson will remain a member of the Board of Directors and will provide advice to Mr. Azancot as he assumes the CEO role. The appointment will take effect May 27, 2010, following the Company's annual general meeting, subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. Effective April 26, 2010, Mr. Azancot will join the Company as Executive Vice President.
Mike Azancot is a highly experienced and respected international oil and gas executive. During the past 30 years, he has held increasingly senior operational leadership and managerial positions in a number of companies, both public and private. Since 2006, he has served as founder and Chief Executive Officer of Lateral Resources Ltd., a company focused on the acquisition of international under-performing upstream businesses, as well as founder and Director of European Energy Assets SA, a downstream business acquisition venture. Beginning in 2000, Mr. Azancot served as the Senior Vice President, Exploration and Production, for Petrokazakhstan Inc. until the takeover of the company in 2005. Mr. Azancot holds a Masters Degree in Engineering and is a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), the Petroleum Exploration Society of Great Britain (PESGB) and the Energy Institute.
Walter DeBoni, Chair of Sterling's Board of Directors stated, "We are delighted to have an individual of Mike's caliber join Sterling as our next President and Chief Executive Officer. His track record of adding value to major producing assets in previous senior positions will bring a new dimension to the Company as it moves into its next growth phase."
Mr. DeBoni also acknowledged Stewart Gibson's significant contribution to the growth of the Company. "On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to thank Stewart for his hard work, dedication and perseverance in taking Sterling's business plan from concept to reality. Over the past decade, he has taken the Company to a stage where significant value will be added for the shareholders as the discoveries progress to first production. I am pleased that Stewart will continue to serve on the Board of Directors, as well as assisting the new CEO in the Company's future endeavours," noted Mr. DeBoni.
"I am pleased to be afforded the opportunity to join and lead the dynamic team at Sterling," stated Mike Azancot. "Stewart and his team have done an excellent job of identifying and acting upon drilling opportunities in both the United Kingdom and Romania, and I look forward to executing the development process to take these wells forward to first production and to continue the growth of the company through exploitation of an excellent portfolio," added Mr. Azancot.
"Given the company is at a stage of preparing for a period of significant cashflow, the timing is appropriate to pass over the reins associated with the position of CEO. I look forward to working with Mike as he assumes his new role as President and CEO of Sterling. Mike and the team will develop and execute upon a strategy that builds on Sterling's successes to date and that will continue to add value in the future," stated Stewart Gibson.
Sterling Resources Ltd. is a Canadian-listed international oil and gas company headquartered in Calgary, Alberta with assets in the United Kingdom, Romania and France. The shares are listed and posted for trading on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "SLG".
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Forward-Looking Statements
All statements included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that Sterling expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements.
These forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions made by Sterling based on its experience, perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate in the circumstances. In addition, these statements involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other-forward looking statements will prove inaccurate, certain of which are beyond Sterling's control, including: the impact of general economic conditions in the areas in which Sterling operates, civil unrest, industry conditions, changes in laws and regulations including the adoption of new environmental laws and regulations and changes in how they are interpreted and enforced, increased competition, the lack of availability of qualified personnel or management, fluctuations in commodity prices, foreign exchange or interest rates, stock market volatility and obtaining required approvals of regulatory authorities. In addition there are risks and uncertainties associated with oil and gas operations. Readers should also carefully consider the matters discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Information Form.
Undue reliance should not be placed on these forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are based will occur. Sterling's actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. These statements speak only as of the date of the press release. Sterling does not intend and does not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements except as required by law.
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For further information: visit www.sterling-resources.com or contact: Walter DeBoni, Director, Phone: (403) 615-8763, [email protected]; George Kesteven, Manager, Corporate & Investor Relations, Phone: (403) 215-9265, Fax: (403) 215-9279, [email protected]
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