Permian People: October 2026

Hirings, promotions, and other personnel matters in the nation’s biggest oil patch—or in companies who do business in the Permian Basin.

 

ConocoPhillips announced Aug. 6 that Andy O’Brien, Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President, Strategy and Commercial, succeeds Ryan Lance as President and CEO. O’Brien joins the board of directors with his appointment. Lance will retire as president and CEO and become executive chair of the board of directors in a transitional role following a distinguished and impactful career. Konnie Haynes-Welsh, currently Vice President/Finance and Controller, will become Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. These appointments are effective Sept. 1. Robert Niblock, lead independent director, remarked, “On behalf of the board, I want to thank Ryan for 14 years of exceptional leadership and more than 40 years of dedicated service to the company…. We are also pleased to appoint Andy as President and CEO. He is the right person to lead our company into its next phase. He brings a deep knowledge of our business and a strong track record of execution, and he has played a key role in making ConocoPhillips successful. We look forward to welcoming him to the board.” For his own part, O’Brien said, “I’m honored to lead ConocoPhillips and grateful to Ryan for the strong foundation he has built. Ryan has helped put the company in an exceptional position…. Our future is bright, our best years are ahead of us and I can’t wait to get after it with this team.” O’Brien began his career with Conoco in 1997 and held

numerous finance, planning and strategy roles of increasing responsibility across the globe before becoming a member of the company’s executive leadership team in 2022. Since then, he has served in leadership roles overseeing the company’s Alaska and international businesses, commercial, LNG, finance, corporate strategy, Investor Relations and mergers and acquisitions. Haynes-Welsh joined ConocoPhillips in 2012 and held leadership roles of increasing responsibility across finance and strategy, including positions in corporate strategy, compliance, and Lower 48, and later served as treasurer before becoming vice president, Finance and Controller. Prior to joining ConocoPhillips, she held roles with PricewaterhouseCoopers and Mariner Energy.

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Brittany Kelm, who until recently was one of the White House’s senior energy advisers, has left the Trump Administration to work for Sable Offshore, a small oil company with a big political footprint. Sable Offshore was at the center of a dispute between California and the Trump administration, which invoked the Defense Production Act in March to cut regulatory red tape to help the company quickly boost oil production. Her last day at the National Energy Dominance Council was in August. Kelm, incidentally, is a former staffer for the Permian Basin Petroleum Association. Kelm is slated to head up Sable Offshore’s D.C. office as a vice president of policy and commercial programs. Jarrod Agen, the Council’s executive director, called Kelm a “proven closer” who “is uniquely trusted in Washington, D.C., Midland, Texas, Caracas, Venezuela.” He added: “Brittany Kelm is the undisputed queen of U.S. energy. She earned that title by delivering endless wins for President Trump’s energy dominance agenda.”

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PPHB announced Aug. 24 the addition of Brandon Boor as a Managing Director in its Industrials Group. Boor will expand the firm’s reach in the middle-market industrial sector and lead the strategic growth of PPHB’s footprint with the opening of a new office in Charlotte. Most recently, Boor was with BlackArch Partners, a middle-market investment bank headquartered in Charlotte, where he was a senior leader in its Industrial Products and Building Products and Infrastructure groups, with particular expertise in metal products. Prior to his business career, Boor served as a decorated officer in the U.S. Army, including a deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. “PPHB is excited to welcome Brandon to the firm,” said Joe Buchanan, Partner at PPHB. “His extensive experience, deep industry knowledge, and proven leadership will be invaluable as we expand our capabilities for clients in the industrial middle market.”

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Danos on Aug. 6 named Drew Taggart general counsel, strengthening the company’s legal leadership as it continues to grow across the energy and industrial sectors. In this role, Taggart will provide strategic legal counsel across the organization, supporting business operations, growth initiatives and risk management while helping advance Danos’ long-term objectives. Taggart brings experience representing energy industry clients in complex commercial and business matters. Prior to joining Danos, he was a partner at Bracewell LLP. He previously served as a law clerk to Judge Leslie H. Southwick of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit. A graduate of the University of Mississippi School of Law, Taggart earned a Juris Doctor degree in 2014. “Drew’s legal experience, deep understanding of the energy industry and strong alignment with our purpose and values make him an excellent addition to the Danos team,” said Paul Danos, owner and CEO of Danos.

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NETZSCH Pumps USA, a provider of complex fluid handling solutions, announced Aug. 7 that Brad Schard has joined the company as Sales Director for the Oil and Gas business field. In his new role, Schard will lead and manage both outside and inside sales teams to achieve strategic growth, revenue, profitability, and market share goals. He will also focus on building and strengthening relationships with key stakeholders, including EPC firms, OEMs, system integrators, and pipeline midstream companies, while representing NETZSCH within the industry. Schard will be based in NETZSCH’s Houston office.