HighPoint Resources Corp. (NYSE: HPR) said June 14 that Paul Geiger will join the Denver-Julesburg (D-J) Basin operator as COO.

Geiger, previously with Southwestern Energy Co. (NYSE: SWN), has more than 23 years of experience in oil and gas operations and a strong track record of running large-scale, multi-rig development programs, said Scot Woodall, HighPoint's CEO and president.

"His background in operations management, engineering and business optimization of assets will help us continue along our path of delivering returns-driven growth," Woodall said in a statement. "Paul's expertise will prove invaluable as we move to full-scale development mode across our acreage in the oil-weighted and rural core of the D-J Basin. I am excited to welcome Paul to our team."

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At Southwestern, Geiger served as senior vice president of corporate development. He has also held numerous engineering and leadership roles with Quantum Resources Management, Anadarko Petroleum Corp. (NYES: APC), Howell Petroleum and Meridian Oil/Burlington Resources. He earned his bachelor's degree in Petroleum Engineering and his MBA from the University of Texas.

In his new role at HighPoint as COO which takes effect July 11, Geiger will provide leadership and strategic oversight of the company's growing operations in the D-J Basin of Colorado.

HighPoint formed earlier this year through the combination of Bill Barrett Corp. and Fifth Creek Energy Co. LLC in March. The Denver-based company holds a contiguous rural position largely HBP in the core of the D-J Basin that covers roughly 151,100 net acres, according to a recent corporate presentation.

Geiger said in a statement, "I am eager to join the HighPoint team and build upon the significant momentum that has been created over the past several months. I look forward to working with the company's talented team and capitalizing on its operational capabilities as well as its technical expertise to drive further efficiencies, support the company's growth objectives across our dominant D-J Basin acreage position and increase value for the shareholders."