Rango Energy Inc. (OTC: RAGO) appointed former ExxonMobil Corp. (NYSE: XOM) executive Robert Harrell as its CEO, the company said Jan. 16. The company also appointed Lewis Pittman as head of its technical advisory board, Rango said.

Harrell worked at ExxonMobil and Superior Oil Co. for 20 years, and has worked in the industry for more than 35, the company said. He worked in technical engineering, operational, supervisory and executive management at both companies, the company added.

Harrell co-founded an acquisition and divestiture (A&D) transaction advisory firm that transacted billion-dollar deals with Chevron Corp. (NYSE: CVX), Texaco, ConocoPhillips Co. (NYSE: COP), Hess Corp. (NYSE: HES) and others, Rango said.

"With the appointment of Bob, we are thrilled to have attracted such a talented and experienced oil and gas executive to the Rango team. Bob has been actively involved Rango's primary partner, Innex Energy LLC, for the past several years, has intimate knowledge of the Innex portfolio of oil and gas leases, and will be key to helping manage and grow Rango's relationship with Innex,”said Harp Sangha, Rango’s CEO since 2012.

Sangha, who will be the company’s chairman, added “We plan on providing shareholders with an update on the status of Rango's involvement with Innex before long, but having Bob at the helm of our company will help ensure that we maximize our opportunity with Innex. We are confident that Bob will help Rango become a significant energy and production company in the near future."

Rango Energy, based in Dallas, is an oil and gas exploration and development company.