EL DORADO, Ark.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Murphy Oil Corporation (NYSE: MUR) announced today the following personnel changes.
Walter K. Compton has been promoted to Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Murphy Oil Corporation and John A. Moore has been promoted to Manager, Law and will assume the role of Corporate Secretary. These promotions are concurrent with the retirement of Steven A. Cossé, effective March 1, 2011.
Compton joined the Law Department of Murphy in 1988 and was promoted to Attorney four years later. In 1996, he was promoted to Manager, Law and Corporate Secretary. He was named Vice President, Law in 2009.
Compton received a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Southern Methodist University and a law degree from the University of Arkansas.
In his new position, Compton will report to David M. Wood, President and Chief Executive Officer, Murphy Oil Corporation.
Moore joined Murphy in 1995 as Associate Attorney in the Law Department. In 1998, he was promoted to Attorney. He was promoted several times within that position before being named Senior Attorney in 2005.
Moore received a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from Ouachita Baptist University and a law degree from the University of Arkansas.
In his new position, Moore will continue to report to Compton.
Cossé will retire after 41 years of service. After receiving a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Southeastern Louisiana, Cossé joined Ocean Drilling & Exploration Company (ODECO) in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1969 as a Junior Accountant Trainee. He held several positions within the Accounting and Land Departments before being promoted to Attorney in 1974 upon receiving his Law degree from Loyola University. Cossé was promoted several times within ODECO’s Legal Department and was named General Counsel in 1983. In 1991, he transferred to Murphy Oil Corporation as General Counsel. He was promoted to Vice President and General Counsel in 1993, then Senior Vice President in 1994. He was named to his current position of Executive Vice President and General Counsel in 2005.
David M. Wood commented, "Steve has enjoyed a long and illustrious career with our company; his talents, insights and advice have been integral to our success. We all wish him the very best as he steps into retirement.” Wood added, “I am delighted that we can elevate Walter to General Counsel. He has been a solid and talented leader of our Law Department the past 14 years. His successor as Company Secretary, John Moore underscores the depth of talent we have and we look forward to his contributions to our company's success."