Xcite Energy has announced a series of board and senior management appointments as the company continues to progress its development of the Bentley field in the current Phase 1A work program.

Richard Smith has decided to retire from his role as CEO and as a director of the company.

Rupert Cole has been appointed as CEO. He is a founding member of Xcite Energy and previously held the role of CFO. He will continue to maintain overall responsibility for the strategic financing of the company and the associated external relationships.

Stephen Kew, also a founding member of Xcite Energy and currently exploration and development director, will formally take on the role of COO, which will continue to include his responsibilities for oil field asset acquisition, and development.

Jon Dale has been appointed as finance director of Xcite Energy Resources Ltd. (XER), the company’s 100% owned operating subsidiary. He has been the Xcite Energy group’s financial controller since early 2008 and was appointed as company secretary for XER in September 2011.

Andrew Fairclough has been appointed as corporate affairs director for the Xcite Energy group. He will play a leading role in the company’s external communications and relationship management. He has over 17 years of corporate broking and corporate finance experience, having previously worked for a number of leading financial institutions, including Espirito Santo Investment Bank, Merrill Lynch, and Rothschild.

Matt Bower has been appointed as operations director for XER, taking full responsibility for operational matters from Richard West on completion of the Phase 1A work program. Following the completion of the program, West will assume responsibility for industry related regulatory and compliance matters for XER, thus providing important continuity in the transition from Phase 1A to Phase 1B of the Bentley field development.