Newpark Resources Inc. (NYSE: NR) appointed Tony Best and Rod Larson to its board of directors upon the retirement announcement of chairman Jerry Box, the company said March 13.

Best is CEO of Denver-based SM Energy Co. (NYSE: SM), Newpark Resources said, noting that he joined SM Energy in 2006 as president and COO before being appointed CEO in February 2007. He also sits on SM Energy’s board of directors, Newpark Resources added.

From 2003-2006, Best was president and CEO of Pure Resources Inc. in Midland, Texas, the company said. He worked for many years at Atlantic Richfield Co., which was acquired by BP Plc (NYSE: BP) in 2000, the company added.

He holds a master’s of science in engineering management from the University of Alaska, and holds a bachelor’s of science in mechanical engineering from Texas A&M University, the company said.

Larson has been COO of Houston-based Oceaneering International Inc. (NYSE: OII) since 2012, and previously served for 22 years at Baker Hughes Inc. (NYSE: BHI), most recently as president, Latin America, Newpark Resources said.

From 1990-1998, Larson was operations manager and field engineer in the U.S. and Venezuela for Western Atlas Inc., which was acquired by Baker Hughes, the company added.

He holds a bachelor’s of science in electrical engineering from North Dakota State University and an MBA from Rice University, the company said.

Paul L. Howes, president and CEO of Newpark Resources, said Best and Larson are “both highly qualified, with demonstrated leadership skills and broad experience in the oil and gas industry on both the domestic and international side. Tony has 35 years of experience in domestic and international upstream oil and gas operations, and Rod has over 24 years of experience in global oilfield services including deepwater. We look forward to their contributions to our organization.”

Newpark Resources Inc., based in The Woodlands, Texas, provides drilling fluids, temporary work sites and access roads for oil fields and other commercial markets worldwide.