Intrepid Announces Two Executive Appointments

DENVER, CO, Dec. 12, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Intrepid Potash, Inc. (NYSE: IPI) announced today the appointment of Brian Stone as Chief Operating Officer, effective December 16, 2019, and Kyle Smith as General Counsel - Land, Minerals, Water, Oilfield Solutions and Government Affairs, effective December 30, 2019.

Mr. Stone will assume responsibility for Intrepid’s oilfield solutions segment and its water business and has been tasked with continuing the organic expansion of Intrepid’s mid-stream footprint. It is expected that he will gradually take on additional responsibilities for Intrepid’s other mineral operations.

Mr. Stone has spent 34 years in all phases of the oil and gas industry, most recently as Chief Operating Officer for Hupecol Operating Co., an international oil and gas company focused on South America and Europe. In that capacity, Mr. Stone managed international oil and gas operations, with an emphasis on developing mid-stream facilities, as well as heading the finance and business development roles for those companies.

Prior to joining Hupecol, Mr. Stone was employed by J.M. Huber Corporation, initially as Vice President of Energy Marketing and later as Chief Risk Officer. In those roles, Mr. Stone oversaw physical product marketing, transportation, gathering, commodity trading, and risk management. Mr. Stone began his career with Texas Eastern Transmission Corporation.

Bob Jornayvaz, Intrepid's Executive Chairman, President, and CEO commented on the hiring: “I have known Brian for many years, and I am well aware of his success in managing and growing oil and gas operations across the upstream and mid-stream landscape, which we believe will provide direction and growth of Intrepid’s oilfield solutions segment. Brian’s background in managing commodity-related businesses will be invaluable in the management of Intrepid’s core potash and Trio businesses. Brian also has a strong track record of securing, negotiating, and closing significant financial transactions throughout his career. I welcome Brian to the Intrepid team.”

As General Counsel - Land, Minerals, Water, Oilfield Solutions and Government Affairs, Mr. Smith will provide leadership and support of new activities related to our business development efforts as Intrepid continues to grow and diversify.

Mr. Smith has almost two decades of experience working in and for energy, mining, and natural resource companies in increasing levels of responsibility and leadership within business, legal, and executive teams. His clients have included BP, ConocoPhillips, Koch Industries, and Continental Resources. The last 15 years have been spent in roles of increasing responsibility in-house including as Assistant General Counsel for Operations for a large independent upstream producer, Executive Vice President and General Counsel for a start-up pure-play oil and gas operator, and most recently as General Counsel for the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act Regional Corporation, which has 40 subsidiaries in holding lines dedicated to mining, oilfield services, construction, commercial real estate, and government contracting.