Brent Eshleman was appointed as interim president and CEO of Bellatrix Exploration Ltd. after Raymond G. Smith, the president and CEO, took a temporary leave of absence for personal reasons, the company said Nov. 25.

Eshleman joined Bellatrix as executive vice president in July 2012, and became executive vice president and COO in September 2014. He has more than 30 years of oil and gas industry experience and is a professional engineer.

Bellatrix Exploration Ltd. is based in Calgary, Alberta.