Cobalt International Energy Inc. (NYSE: CIE) has appointed Timothy J. Cutt as CEO and as a Class I member of the Board of Directors, each effective July 2.

Cutt brings over 30 years of oil and gas experience, most recently as president, petroleum, of BHP Billiton where he was accountable for its global oil and gas business. Cutt assumes the CEO role from Joseph H. Bryant who has resigned as the company’s chairman of the board and CEO, and as a member of the Board of Directors, each effective June 1.

In connection with Bryant’s resignation, William P. Utt, the company’s lead independent director, has been appointed as interim chairman of the Board of Directors and Van P. Whitfield, the company’s executive vice president and COO, has been appointed as interim CEO, each effective June 1. In addition, Whitfield has been appointed as a Class II member of the Board of Directors.

Cutt was accountable for BHP Billiton’s global oil and gas business from July 2013 until March 2016. He joined BHP Billiton in 2007 as the president of the production division in the petroleum business where he was accountable for running operations in the U.K., Pakistan, Trinidad & Tobago, Algeria, Australia and the U.S. During this time, he was instrumental in building the operating capacity for BHP Billiton’s deepwater business.

Before joining BHP Billiton, Cutt held positions in engineering, operations and senior management for 25 years with Mobil Oil Corp. and then ExxonMobil. During this time he spent 10 years supporting E&P activities in the Gulf of Mexico and held positions of president Hibernia Management and Development Co. and president of ExxonMobil de Venezuela. Cutt is a graduate of Louisiana Tech University with a Bachelor of Science degree in petroleum engineering.