The board of directors for Baytex Energy Corp. (TO: BTE.TO) appointed Rodney D. Gray as the company’s CFO, the company said March 17. He succeeds W. Derek Aylesworth in the role, the company added, noting that Aylesworth will retire in June and Gray will join Baytex in April.

Gray has more than 20 years’ experience in the oil and natural gas industry, Baytex said, noting that he was CFO for an industrial services company for the past nine months.

Prior to that, he worked for 11 years—as vice president of finance for eight—at an intermediate oil and natural gas producer operating in Canada and the U.S, Baytex said.

Gray is a chartered accountant who holds a bachelor’s of commerce from Queen’s University in Ontario, the company said.

"We are sad to see Derek leave, but we wish him all the best in retirement. To ensure an orderly transition, Derek will remain engaged through the release of our first quarter results and the closing of the acquisition of Aurora Oil & Gas Ltd.,” said James Bowzer, president and CEO.

He added, “We are excited to have Rod join Baytex. He has a very strong accounting and financial background in the oil and gas industry and we look forward to his many contributions."

Calgary-based Baytex Energy Corp. acquires, develops and produces oil and natural gas in the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin and also in the U.S. portion of the Williston Basin.