HENRY Wilson has retired as chairman of Aberdeen-based Eland Oil & Gas. Mr Wilson, one of the founders of Nigeria-focused Eland, stepped down from the board on 31 December after five years as chairman. He said Eland’s Nigerian assets leave it well positioned to benefit from an upswing in the oil price. Mr Wilson has been succeeded by Russell Harvey, who has been a non-executive director of Eland since it floated on the AIM market in 2012. Robert Lambert retired as a non-executive director of Eland on 31 December when investment banking veteran Grégory Stoupnitzky joined the board.

Separately, North Sea-focused Ithaca Energy said Richard Smith has been appointed chief commercial officer after spending five years as corporate development manager.