Empire Oil & Gas NL has appointed Kent Quinlan as Acting Chief Executive, effective immediately. Mr. Quinlan is on secondment to Empire from ERM Power, where he holds the position of Chief Financial Officer at the Company's Gas Business Unit. He is also a senior member of ERM Power's executive management team and participates in strategic planning matters for the Group.

Mr. Quinlan was previously the Manager of Strategic Planning for Queensland Gas Company (QGC) and has held financial management roles with Energex Retail, Origin Energy, SANTOS and Mount Isa Mines. Empire Chairman Tony Iannello, who will remain on the Board as a non-executive director following the appointment of a new Chairman, said Mr. Quinlan's extensive financial and energy industry experience would be invaluable as Empire undertook a full review of its financial, operational and legal affairs.