(WO) - Rex International Holding Limited has appointed upstream veteran Mike Hopkinson as chief operating officer, succeeding Svein Kjellesvik, who is retiring after nearly a decade in the role. 

Hopkinson previously served as general manager of Rex subsidiary Masirah Oil Ltd, operator of the Yumna field in Oman’s Block 50, since 2023. The appointment comes as the company prepares for an upcoming drilling program in Oman.

Rex said Hopkinson brings more than 30 years of upstream experience spanning exploration, development and production operations across both onshore and offshore assets, including shallow- and deepwater projects.

His industry background includes work in the UK North Sea, Gulf of Mexico, Ghana, Equatorial Guinea, Ukraine, Georgia, Ecuador and Guatemala. Prior to joining Masirah Oil, he served as energy transition coordinator for Cox Oil in Dallas.

“We welcome Mike on board the Rex management team,” said CEO Per Lind. “With our continued focus on operations and the upcoming drilling programme in Oman, he is the most suitable candidate for the role of COO.”

Lind also thanked outgoing COO Svein Kjellesvik for overseeing the company’s operational growth and integration of new business development initiatives since 2015.

Hopkinson holds a master’s degree in petroleum engineering from Imperial College in the UK and began his industry career with Marathon Oil in Aberdeen, Scotland.