Gulfport Energy Corp. (NASDAQ: GPOR) said Nov. 1 that Michael G. Moore stepped down as president and CEO and will be replaced on an interim basis by the Oklahoma City-based company’s current COO Donnie Moore.

Michael Moore was named CEO of Gulfport in 2014. Prior to that, had served as the company’s CFO and secretary since joining Gulfport in 2000.

In addition to stepping down, Michael Moore also resigned from his position on the Gulfport board. His resignation, effective Oct. 29, was not a result of any disagreement with Gulfport or the company’s operations, according to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Gulfport said its board has engaged an executive recruiting firm to undertake a nationwide search for a CEO to lead the company for the long term.

In the meantime, Interim CEO Donnie Moore joined Gulfport as COO in January 2018. He had previously been with Noble Energy Inc. (NYSE: NBL), where he served as vice president of Noble’s Texas operations for the Eagle Ford and Delaware Basin assets.

David L. Houston, chairman of the Gulfport board, said in a statement: “Donnie has the full and unanimous support of the board of directors to lead the company forward immediately and seamlessly. Since joining Gulfport this year, Donnie has brought to bear his nearly three decades of exceptional management and technical experience in the E&P industry to drive efficient execution of Gulfport’s operations. His talent in marshaling and focusing the skills and efforts of Gulfport’s employees has earned him respect across our organization.”

Gulfport is an independent natural gas and oil company with significant acreage positions in the Utica Shale of Eastern Ohio and the Scoop Woodford and Springer plays in Oklahoma. The company has assets along the Louisiana Gulf Coast and the Alberta oil sands in Canada plus a roughly 22% equity interest in Mammoth Energy Services Inc. (NASDAQ: TUSK).

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