WEST Perth-based unlisted public company Cool Energy Ltd has appointed former BHP Billiton Petroleum executive William Bloking as its chairman, almost five months after he was appointed to the company’s board as a director. Mr Bloking was most recently BHP Billiton Petroleum president, Australia/Asia gas, where he had responsibility for the company’s international and domestic LNG businesses. He was also a former chief executive officer of the mining giant’s North West Shelf subsidiary, overseeing that project and the Browse and Pilbara LNG projects. He is currently national vice chairman of the Australia-China Business Council, governor of the American Chamber of Commerce in Australia and adjunct professor at Murdoch University. Mr Bloking is also a director of two not-for-profit organisations – the Lions Eye Institute Ltd and the West Australian Symphony Orchestra – and is a fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. In his new role, Mr Bloking will drive the commercialisation of Cool Energy’s gas CO2 removal technology.