Swift Energy Co.’s board of directors appointed Sean Woolverton as CEO of the company effective March 1. He will also serve as a member of the board.

Woolverton succeeds the company’s Interim CEO, Bob Banks, who will continue to serve as COO.

“After a thorough and extensive selection process, the board of directors is pleased to welcome Sean to the Swift management team,” Swift Energy’s chairman, Marc Rowland, said in a statement. “Sean is an exceptional hire for the company. His deep understanding of the upstream industry, broad leadership capacity, and proven track record in business development and project execution positions him well to advance the strategic priorities and value creation initiatives already underway at the company.”

“I look forward to working alongside Marc Rowland, the board of directors, and the skilled and dedicated workforce that have helped Swift become a best in class operator,” Woolverton said. “The company is well capitalized with a valuable portfolio of assets and competitive cost structure, which uniquely positions us to pursue a strategy of profitable growth in the Eagle Ford for the benefit of all our stakeholders.”

Woolverton was previously the COO of Samson Resources Co., where he joined in November 2013. From 2007 to 2013, Woolverton held a series of positions of increasing responsibility at Chesapeake Energy Corp., including as vice president of its Southern Appalachia business unit. Prior to joining Chesapeake Energy, Woolverton worked for Encana Corp., where he oversaw its Fort Worth Basin development and shale exploration teams in North Texas.