Hyperdynamics Corporation says that the Honorable Lord David Owen has been appointed to its Board of Directors.

Lord Owen was Chairman of Yukos International U.K. B.V., part of the former Russian oil company, Yukos, from 2002 until 2005. Prior to that, he was Executive Chairman of Global Natural Energy Ltd, a metals trading company with interests in gasoline stations in the United Kingdom. Lord Owen was also a member of the Advisory Board of Terra Firma Capital Partners from 2004 until 2008.

He is a retired member of the British Parliament. In his last position with the British government, Lord Owen was named Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs from 1977 to 1979. During that time he was heavily involved in diplomatic activity in both South and West Africa. Lord Owen was the opposition Labor Party spokesman on Energy from 1979 until 1981. He co-founded the British Social Democratic Party in 1981 and served as its leader from 1983 until 1990.

Ray Leonard, Hyperdynamics' Chief Executive Officer, stated, "Lord Owen is a tremendous addition to our Board. He has the political and financial expertise to help us work successfully with the government of Guinea and with global investors. Lord Owen brings a new dimension of energy and international expertise to complement the breadth of contacts and industry knowledge to our reconstituted Board. He has proven to be an innovative leader in each of his roles, and we welcome the valuable perspective and insight he will add to our organization. We also appreciate the confidence in our future that his joining the Board indicates and look forward to working with a person of his qualifications and reputation."

Lord Owen is currently non-executive Chairman of Europe Steel Ltd and member of the Board of Directors of Abbott Laboratories Inc.

Tags: Hyperdynamics Corporation