Apache Corporation says that Jon Jeppesen, Anthony Lannie and Kregg Olson have been promoted to executive vice president, and Aaron Merrick and Obie O'Brien have been named vice presidents.

"The promotions of Jon, Anthony and Kregg to executive vice president are recognition of the leadership, knowledge and experience that they have provided over a number of years, and the profound effect they have had on Apache's success," said G. Steven Farris, Apache's chairman and chief executive officer. "Aaron and Obie have made significant contributions to Apache's growth and progress."

Jeppesen has been senior vice president since February 2003, having been regional vice president for the Gulf Coast Region since 2002 and the Offshore Region since 1996. He served as the company's vice president of Exploration and Development for North America from 1994 to 1996 and as manager of Offshore Exploration and Development from 1993 to 1994. Prior to joining the company, Jeppesen was vice president of Exploration and Development for Pacific Enterprises Oil Co. from 1989 to 1992. He received his bachelor's and master's degrees in geology from Kansas State University. He is a member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists and the Houston Geological Society.

Lannie was appointed senior vice president and general counsel in May 2004, having been vice president and general counsel since March 2003. Prior to joining Apache, he was president of Kinder Morgan Power Co. from 2000 through February 2003, and president of Coral Energy Canada in 1999. He acted as senior vice president and general counsel of Coral Energy, an affiliate of Shell Oil Co. and Tejas Gas Corp., from 1995 through 1999, and of Tejas Gas Corp. from 1994 until its combination with Coral Energy in 1998. He earned his undergraduate and law degrees from Vanderbilt University.

Olson was promoted to senior vice president - Corporate Reservoir Engineering in September 2007, having been vice president since January 2004. He joined Apache in 1992 and held positions of increasing responsibility within Corporate Reservoir Engineering. Previously, he was associated with Grace Petroleum Corp. Olson received a bachelor's degree in petroleum engineering from Texas A&M University. He is a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers and is a registered professional engineer in the state of Oklahoma.

Merrick, Apache's new vice president - Information Technology, has served as director of Information Technology since 2006. Previously, Merrick was a vice president of T-NETIX, Inc., a company specializing in telephone operations across the United States and in the United Kingdom, and a consultant. Merrick has a bachelor's degree in accounting from Bob Jones University and spent seven years at KPMG Peat Marwick.

O'Brien has been promoted to vice president - Government Affairs. He has been director of Governmental, Regulatory and Community Affairs since joining Apache in 1992. Prior to joining the company, O'Brien served as Governmental Affairs manager for Mitchell Energy, special projects director for U.S. Sen. Lloyd Bentsen, and projects coordinator for U.S. Rep. Michael A. Andrews. He earned his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Texas at Austin.

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