Perth-based energy exploration company Kinetiko Energy today announced key changes to its South African leadership team with the appointment of a new CEO, Nick de Blocq, who succeeds the long standing CEO Johan Visage. 

Nick de Blocq has been appointed as chief executive officer with more than 33 years’ experience in the global oil & gas exploration and production industry with major companies such as Schlumberger, Frank’s International, SEPCO Industries and Moz Environmental. He has an extensive managerial and operational skill set with multi-country general management, operations, business development, sales and marketing, including roles as a continental Vice President for an American corporate and more recently the Country Manager and COO for regional companies in both East and West Africa. 

Kinetiko’s Executive Chairman Adam Sierakowski commented:
“We are extremely pleased to welcome Nick de Blocq as CEO at this time. His appointment will bring considerable expertise, in particular with his deep African drilling, project development and operational experience which is ideal as we continue to execute our next phase growth plan. This opportunity has come about through the years of dedication and commitment from the Company’s outgoing CEO Johan Visage who is deservedly retiring after a long career in the sector. The Company is strongly poised in the current domestic and global energy market to aggressively pursue its strategy to become a leading clean energy source in South Africa, and Nick’s appointment is highly complementary to our strategy.”

Incoming CEO Nick de Blocq commented:
“The Company has a terrific project and perfect opportunity to develop into a major onshore gas producer and is poised on the cusp of becoming a substantial source of high quality gas to help alleviate the national energy shortage. I am looking forward to working with some of the best geophysical and operational solutions providers on the Continent as we realise this potential. From my first visit to West Africa in 1988, followed by managing operations and business in over 30 African countries (and 30 more globally), I have been successful in achieving objectives in the most difficult and complex environments, and I am very comfortable about delivering success for this project in my home country.”

KeyFacts Energy: Kinetiko Energy South Africa country profile