WHL Energy appoints Rowbottam as MD

Perth-based oil and gas explorer WHL Energy has appointed David Rowbottam as its new managing director.

He replaces former WHL managing director Steve Noske, who resigned in August citing personal reasons.

Mr Rowbottam is a former chief executive and finance director at WHL and has also held the position of managing director at listed explorer Exoma Energy and senior roles with Alinta Group and the BHP Group.

"This is an exciting time for WHL Energy and its shareholders and I look forward to working towards transforming the company by further developing assets towards production while also identifying further opportunities to create shareholder value," Mr Rowbottam said.

The company has opted not to find a new finance director to replace Mr Rowbottam as part of a range of cost-cutting measures.

WHL holds a 17,345 square kilometre exploration area off the southern Seychelles coast but efforts to secure a partner for a farm-in deal have so far been unsuccessful. 

Shares in WHL were up 7.7 per cent to 1.4 cents at 9:15AM WST.