Weatherford International has named Dianne B. Ralston as executive vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary, according to a news release.

Ralston joins Weatherford with more than 20 years of combined legal, compliance and contractual experience in the oil and gas industry, including working for Schlumberger in a variety of roles since 1998. Her most recent positions with Schlumberger were of deputy general counsel, corporate, as well as deputy general counsel, government affairs and litigation, the release said.

She also acted as director of compliance, responsible for the development and management of Schlumberger’s global corporate ethics and compliance program.

Ralston holds a B.B.A. from Texas A&M University and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Houston’s School of Law.

With this appointment, Weatherford said it will merge the company’s legal and compliance departments under Ralston.

The company also announced that William B. Jacobson, senior vice president, co-general counsel and chief compliance officer for Weatherford, will be stepping down and leaving the company to pursue other opportunities. During his five-year tenure at Weatherford, Jacobson established a comprehensive best-in-class compliance program, the release said.

Alejandro Cestero, vice president, co-general counsel and corporate secretary for Weatherford, also will be leaving the company, effective July 31, to pursue other opportunities.