Oilsands Quest Replaces CEO

Wednesday, January 20, 2010 at 12:38

A company searching for oil north of La Loche has a new leader.

Oilsands Quest has announced that Murray Wilson is replacing Chris Hopkins as president and CEO.

Hopkins is leaving to form his own company, which will begin exploring other properties owned by Oilsands Quest, but will stay on the board of directors.

No one from Oilsands Quest was immediately available for comment.

However, Roy Cheechum, chief of the Clearwater River Dene Nation, says his community will continue to work with whoever is heading up Oilsands Quest.

Cheechum says the departure of Hopkins doesn’t change the band’s position, and he has met Wilson before.

He adds the next step for his band is to continue working on both a memorandum of understanding and an impact benefit agreement with Oilsands Quest.

He hopes to bring the province into those negotiations, to help speed things along.