The Permian Basin’s hirings, promotions, and other personnel matters in the nation’s biggest oil patch—or in companies who do business here.
J.D “Joey” Hall
Crescent Energy Company announced May 19 the appointment of J.D. “Joey” Hall as Chief Operating Officer, effective June 2, 2025. Hall most recently served as Executive Vice President of Operations at Pioneer Natural Resources Company, where he was also a member of the Executive Committee. During his multi-decade career at Pioneer, Hall held leadership roles overseeing development and operational strategy in multiple regions, including the Eagle Ford and Permian Basin. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Texas Tech University. Said Hall: “I am excited to join the Crescent team and a company I see as one of the best-positioned growth stories in the energy sector. I look forward to working with the team to scale operational capabilities and drive sustainable, long-term growth. Our focus will remain on delivering strong financial results while advancing innovation, environmental responsibility, and a culture of safety and operational excellence.” David Rockecharlie, Chief Executive Officer of Crescent, commented, “We are thrilled to welcome Joey Hall to the Crescent team. Joey is a proven leader and trusted teammate with a world-class track record of operational success.”
Colette Hirstius
Gretchen Watkins, President, Shell USA since July 1, 2018, will step down, effective July 31, after seven years in her role, according to a May 5 announcement from Shell. Colette Hirstius, currently Executive Vice President, Gulf of America, will take on the responsibility of President, Shell USA, in addition to her current role, effective August 1. Wael Sawan, Chief Executive Officer, Shell, said: “I would like to thank Gretchen for her service as President of Shell USA, where her leadership has been key to driving performance, discipline, and simplification in our U.S.-based businesses. The United States is an important market for Shell and where we lead the energy sector with our deep-water presence, are the largest off-taker of U.S. LNG, and the nation’s largest mobility network, serving more than seven million customers each day. We see potential for further growth in the United States, and under Colette’s leadership, intend to build on Shell’s competitive strengths as we deliver the secure energy our customers need to power their lives and businesses.”
Steven Thygerson
The American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) on May 19 named Steven Thygerson its 2025 Safety Professional of the Year. Thygerson, an environmental and occupational health professor at Brigham Young University, has been instrumental in advancing workplace safety and health through education, research, advocacy, and global outreach. ASSP stated that Thygerson, a Ph.D., inspires the next generation of safety and health professionals by mentoring students and teaching courses that bridge academic knowledge and real-world application. Since 2010, Thygerson has been the faculty advisor for the flourishing ASSP Student Section at Brigham Young. Joshua West, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Department of Public Health at Brigham Young, remarked, “Dr. Thygerson is a master educator who leverages a decade of industry experience to enrich his teaching.” Thygerson will be honored at ASSP’s Safety 2025 Professional Development Conference and Exposition, slated for July 22-24 in Orlando, Fla.