Brandal named Kvaerner CEO
OSLO:  Inge Hansen, head of Norwegian engineering and construction group Aker Kvaerner, will step down on July 1 and be succeeded by holding company Aker ASA's executive vice-president Martinus Brandal, the firms said.

Hansen has led Aker Kvaerner, Norway's eighth biggest listed company by market capitalisation, for the past two years after earlier serving as chief financial officer of Statoil and as acting Statoil CEO during a transition period in 2003-2004.
"Under his leadership Aker Kvaerner has developed rapidly and well," Aker Kvaerner ASA said in a statement.
Hansen, age 59, will continue to work for the Aker group after leaving the top job at Aker Kvaerner. He will be associated with Aker ASA and lead projects in cooperation with the group management, Aker Kvaerner said.
Brandal, age 45, is currently head of operations, strategy and business development at Aker ASA, which he joined in 2004 from industrial group ABB, Aker Kvaerner said.
He is a member of the Aker Kvaerner board and also holds board positions at three other Aker companies.
“Martinus Brandal, who takes the helm at Aker Kvaerner in July, has extensive international oil and gas experience from his many years with ABB,” Aker Kvaerner’s newly elected chairman Leif-Arne Langoy said in the statement.
Aker Kvaerner provides engineering and construction services to the oil and gas industry.
Aker ASA, part of the empire of Norwegian businessman Kjell Inge Roekke, owns 50.01 percent of the shares in Aker Kvaerner. Aker ASA said separately that its board elected Langoy chairman, to succeed Roekke who will remain an Aker board member.

New Regal chairman
LONDON:  Britain's Regal Petroleum said chairman Peter Heap and chief executive officer (CEO) Rex Gaisford had resigned with immediate effect.
Its exploration director Richard Hardman has also resigned, Regal said. The UK oil explorer said in a statement that it had appointed Paul Morgan to the position of chairman and CEO.