Apache Corporation has reported changes in the leadership of its regional and worldwide exploration organizations.

• John Bedingfield, Australia region vice president and managing director - Apache Energy Ltd., has been named vice president - Worldwide Exploration and New Ventures. • John Christmann, vice president - Business Development, was named vice president of Apache's new Permian Region based in Midland, Texas. • Tom Maher, exploration manager for Apache Egypt Companies in Cairo, was appointed Australia Region vice president and managing director, Apache Energy, Ltd.

"Apache has a strong team of leaders and a portfolio of core areas that will enable the company to compete and continue to grow on a global basis," said G. Steven Farris, Apache's chairman and chief executive officer.

Bedingfield joined Apache in 1998 as a senior staff geophysicist and transferred to Cairo as senior geophysical advisor and geophysical manager of Apache Egypt Companies in 1999. Subsequently, he served as the West Mediterranean deepwater geoscience manager and was promoted to exploration manager of Apache Egypt in 2003. He transferred to Perth as Australia Region exploration manager in 2005, subsequently becoming region vice president in 2009. Prior to joining Apache, Bedingfield worked as a geophysicist at Exxon Co., USA, Esso Production Malaysia, Petronas, and Exxon Exploration Co. in various domestic U.S. and international assignments. He holds bachelor's and master's degrees in geology from Northeast Louisiana University.

Christmann joined Apache in 1997, serving in positions of increasing responsibility in Business Development until he moved to the Gulf Coast Region as production manager in 2003. He was named vice president - Business Development in 2004. Before joining Apache, he was employed by Vastar Resources/ARCO Oil and Gas Co. in business development, crude oil marketing and various engineering and operations assignments. He received his bachelor's degree in petroleum engineering from the Colorado School of Mines and master of business administration from Southern Methodist University.

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