Magnolia Oil & Gas has promoted Christopher Stavros from CFO to CEO.  Brian Corales becomes the CFO, having previously been VP, Investor Relations. The promotion for Mr. Stavros was announced on September 21, two days before founder and CEO, Stephen Chazen, died.

Magnolia has its head office in Greenway Plaza and operates wells in South Texas around Giddings and in Karnes County. It has a market capitalization of $5.6 billion.

The company began as a SPAC (Special Purpose Acquisition Company) formed by Mr. Chazen (ex-CEO of Occidental Petroleum). Mr. Stavros worked with Mr. Chazen at Oxy for 12 years, eventually becoming the CFO, before leaving in 2017.  The SPAC acquired the South Texas properties from Enervest, a PE firm, in 2018 for $2.7 billion and Mr. Stavros became CFO of Magnolia at that point.

Enervest remains the largest shareholder in Magnolia at 18%. Mr. Chazen owned 3% at the time of his death.

Mr. Corales joined Magnolia in November 2018. Prior to that, he had spent many years in investment banking including Johnson Rice & Co and Scotia Howard Weil. He will receive a base salary of $367,500.

SEC filing – 8-K Magnolia CFO appointment