Chesapeake Energy's New CEO Restructures Senior Staff

Chesapeake Energy’s new CEO is shaking up the company’s senior staff, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Chief Executive Doug Lawler sent an email to staff this week saying the restructuring would allow the company to be “more competitive and focused.”
The Wall Street Journal reports four top staffers are leaving:

Among the executives leaving the company is Steve Dixon, a 22-year Chesapeake veteran who had served as its chief operating officer since 2006. Mr. Dixon was tapped as interim chief executive in April while the board searched for a successor to Mr. McClendon, who left under shareholder pressure and has started a new energy company.
Mr. Dixon returned to his operating role after the board hired Mr. Lawler, who joined the company in June from Anadarko Petroleum Corp.  Mr. Dixon declined to comment Monday.
Also leaving are top executives in drilling and production, senior vice president Steve Miller and executive vice president Jeff Fisher, and the company’s head of human resources, Martha Burger.

Chesapeake is the second-largest natural gas producer in the United States and the most active gas driller in Pennsylvania.
Chesapeake has been accused by some Pennsylvania landowners of underpaying gas royalties. The company has repeatedly declined to comment on the accusations.

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