?Quantum Energy Partners’ Alan Smith has been named president and chief executive of Don Wolf’s Denver-based E&P Quantum Resources Management LLC to run day-to-day operations and chart acquisition strategy for the company’s $1.2-billion projected acquisition budget. Wolf will remain chairman. Quantum Resources acquires and works on increasing returns on long-lived, mature properties. Headquarters will be moved to Houston in the next few months.

Smith, 46, has been a managing director of Houston-based energy PE firm Quantum Energy Partners since May 2006. He co-founded with Tom Campbell the Quantum portfolio company Chalker Energy Partners LP, which is now on its third iteration and run by?Doug Krenek. He previously was with Ocean Energy, Burlington Resources and Arco Oil & Gas.

Wolf says, “Alan brings strong execution skills, a proven track record of creating value and the leadership skills to direct top-flight teams. I am looking forward to working with him…as we focus on delivering great returns to our investors over the coming years.”

Founded in 2006 with $1.2 billion of private-investor commitments, Quantum RM has remaining, undrawn commitments totaling $600 million, and Smith says he aims to invest this during the next two years. “I am excited about working with Don to add value to our current assets and to seek unique acquisition targets to further expand the strategic objectives of the company.” ?

Quantum Resources targets acquisitions in the $200-million to $2-billion range. It has already deployed $600 million of investor funding via purchases in the Permian and Gulf Coast basins, the Midcontinent and the Rockies. It had planned in 2007 to form an E&P MLP but scrapped it that fall when investor interest in new E&P MLPs evaporated.