Exploration & Production | People | People-Resignation | People-Promotion
Cenovus Reshuffles Key Executives
Cenovus Energy Inc. has announced that after extensive and successful careers at Cenovus and its predecessor companies, four Cenovus executives have made the decision to retire.
Their transitions off the executive team will begin at different times over the course of 2015.
To minimize disruption to Cenovus's business and ensure the transitions are orderly and managed, the retiring executives will continue in varying capacities until the end of the first quarter of 2016.
Retiring are:
- John Brannan, Executive Vice-President & Chief Operating Officer, who will transition from his role in September. Brannan has 14 years with Cenovus and its predecessor companies and has been responsible for all upstream projects and operations, centralized supply services and health and safety functions for the past five years.
- Kerry Dyte, Executive Vice-President, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary, who will transition from his role in December. Dyte is responsible for Cenovus's legal, Board, subsidiary, corporate governance, internal audit and Cenovus operations management system assurance matters. He has 14 years with Cenovus and its predecessor companies.
- Sheila McIntosh, Executive Vice-President, Environment & Corporate Affairs, who will transition from her role in September. McIntosh has been with Cenovus and its predecessor companies for 30 years and is responsible for Cenovus's environment strategy and performance, regulatory affairs, communications, corporate reputation, investor, government and stakeholder relations, and Aboriginal affairs.
- Hayward Walls, Executive Vice-President, Strategy & Organization Development, who will transition from his role in July. Walls has 26 years with Cenovus and its predecessor companies and is responsible for Cenovus's strategic planning, human resource functions, information systems and technology and administrative services.
The new executive appointments are:
- Jacqui McGillivray, Senior Vice-President & Chief People Officer, who will be appointed Executive Vice-President, Safety & Organization Effectiveness.
- Al Reid, Senior Vice-President, Christina Lake & Narrows Lake, who will be appointed Executive Vice-President, Environment, Corporate Affairs & Legal.
- Drew Zieglgansberger, Senior Vice-President, Operations Shared Services, who will be appointed Executive Vice-President, Oil Sands Manufacturing.
Continuing executives are:
- Harbir Chhina, Executive Vice-President Oil Sands, who will be taking on a new role as Executive Vice-President, Oil Sands Development. Chhina's new role will be focused on unlocking and developing our growth potential.
- Bob Pease, Executive Vice-President, Marketing, Products & Transportation, who will be taking on a new role as Executive Vice-President, Corporate Strategy & President, Downstream.
- Ivor Ruste, Executive Vice-President & Chief Financial Officer.
Brian Ferguson, Cenovus President & Chief Executive Officer said: "It has been my privilege to work with these talented and dedicated executives who are now choosing to retire. My sincere thanks to John, Kerry, Sheila and Hayward for the commitment and passion they have always had for Cenovus. They have been instrumental in making our company what it is today. They have also had a substantial role in ensuring we are well-prepared for their retirement.
As a result of our strong focus on internal succession planning at Cenovus, I am pleased to announce that we are promoting three people from within the company. In addition, earlier this year we initiated an external search for a President, Upstream Oil & Gas who will be responsible for our oil sands and conventional operations. We expect to have someone in that role in September."
Ferguson said: "I am extremely pleased to congratulate the new executives. I am confident that together we will be able to build on our past accomplishments and continue to execute on our strategy."
More People News

ExxonMobil Brings On New VP / Treasurer
ExxonMobil reported that Jim Chapman has been appointed vice president, Tax and Treasurer, effective November 28, 2022. Chapman replaces Jaime Spellings, who has elected to retire after 31…

Coterra Names Jordan CEO; Dinges Takes Chairman Role
Coterra Energy Inc. reported that the Company's Board of Directors appointed Thomas E. Jorden, its President and Chief Executive Officer, as Chairman of the Board effective January 1,…

Evolution Petroleum Taps New President & CEO
Evolution Petroleum announced that the Board of Directors has selected Kelly Loyd as President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Loyd had been serving as Interim CEO since June…

Magnolia Oil & Gas CEO Chazen Steps Down; Cites Health Reasons
Magnolia Oil & Gas Corp. announced that Christopher Stavros, the Company's current Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, has been named President and Chief Executive Officer, and…

Devon Chairman Hager to Retire; Barbara Baumann Named to Top Spot
Devon Energy Corp. reported that the company's board of directors expects to appoint Barbara Baumann as chair of the board, succeeding Dave Hager, who has notified the board…
Canada News

Western Canada Upstream M&A: Q1 2026 Transaction Report
Western Canadian M&A activity in Q1 2026 was characterized by a 87% decrease in total deal value compared to Q1 2025, totaling $0.8 billion C$. However, transaction volume…

Canadan E&P 2026 Program Calls for 448 Net Wells, Up 24% vs. 2025 Plan
Canadian Natural Resources outlined a 2026 operating capital budget of approximately $6.3 billion (total capital budget $6,425 million, including $125 million for carbon capture) targeting 1,590–1,650 MBOE/d of…

EIA’s “Glut” Calls: The 2025 Surplus Claim — and How 2021–2024 Forecasts Actually Held Up
The “~2.2 MMb/d glut in 2025” framing traces to the EIA’s Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO), December 2025. EIA doesn’t usually write “glut” in the tables—what they publish is…

Whitecap Details 2026 Duvernay & Montney Program
Whitecap Resources reported strong third quarter 2025 operating and financial results, marking its first full quarter following the strategic combination with Veren that closed on May 12, 2025.…

ARC Resources: Lower 2026 Capex, Higher Volumes
ARC Resources used its third quarter update to reinforce a familiar message to Canadian E&P executives: disciplined capital, structurally better market access, and a growing shareholder return program…