Canadian Overseas Petroleum Ltd. (COPL), which holds 17% in Block LB13 offshore Liberia in partnership with operator ExxonMobil, has appointed a former executive at Deo Petroleum and commercial vice president of Oilexco North Sea Ltd. as its new vice president of business development and general counsel. Dr Richard Mays was named for the COPL role after previously serving as executive chairman of Black Star Petroleum and as general counsel and director at Deo.