People | People-Retirement

Ultra Petroleum's CEO to Retire; Johnson Named Interim CEO

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Ultra Petroleum reported that its Chairman & CEO Michael D. Watford will be retiring effective February 28, 2018.

Brad Johnson, Senior Vice President, Operations, will become interim CEO on that date.

About Johnson:

• Mr. Johnson joined Ultra Petroleum in 2008 as Director, Reservoir Engineering and Planning. In 2011, he was named Vice President, Reservoir Engineering and Development and concurrently promoted as an Officer of the Company. Since April 2014, Mr. Johnson has served directly under Mr. Watford as Senior Vice President, Operations, where he was responsible for all aspects of the Company's operations, including geosciences, drilling and completion operations, production, construction, reservoir engineering, regulatory, environmental, safety and corporate engineering. Mr. Johnson has over 23 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Ultra, Mr. Johnson was employed by Anadarko Petroleum for 13 years where he served in various engineering and leadership roles.

Board Additions:

Ultra Petroleum also announced that it will add two new directors to its Board under a cooperation agreement with its largest shareholder, Fir Tree Partners, which owns an approximate 20% stake in the Company.

Evan Lederman, Partner at Fir Tree, will join the Ultra Petroleum Board of Directors. In addition, a new independent director selected by a process agreed between Fir Tree and the Company will also be added to the Board. Current Directors, Dr. W. Charles Helton and Roger A. Brown, have notified the Company that they will resign as of February 28, 2018, at which time the two new directors and Mr. Johnson, in his capacity as interim CEO, will join the seven-person Board.