HOUSTON, April 18, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Energy XXI Gulf Coast, Inc.(NASDAQ:EXXI) today announced that it has appointed Douglas E. Brooks as Chief Executive Officer and President effective April 17, 2017. The Board concurrently increased the size of EGC’s Board from six to seven directors and named Mr. Brooks to fill the newly-created directorship.

Mr. Brooks has over 34 years of experience in the energy industry. Most recently he served as the Chief Executive Officer for Yates Petroleum Corporation, a privately-owned exploration and production company, from April 2015 until Yates’ merger with EOG Resources, Inc. in October 2016. Mr. Brooks previously served as Chief Executive Officer of Aurora Oil & Gas Limited from October 2012 until June 2014, and as a Senior Vice President at Forest Oil Corporation from April 2012 until October 2012. In addition, he spent 24 years with Marathon Oil Company in roles of increasing responsibility, lastly as the Director of Upstream Mergers and Acquisitions and Business Development for the Americas. He has also built two private equity-sponsored firms focused on unconventional resource projects in the western U.S.

Mr. Brooks currently serves on the Board of Directors of Chaparral Energy, Inc. and has served as a board member for Aurora Oil & Gas Limited, Magdalena Energy Company, Yates Petroleum and the Houston Producers’ Forum. Additionally, he is currently an advisor for Hart Energy’s A&D Watch, a global energy research publication. Mr. Brooks holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from the University of Wyoming – Casper and a Masters of Business Administration, Finance from Our Lady of the Lake University in Texas.

Michael S. Reddin, EGC’s Chairman of the Board commented, "On behalf of our Board of Directors, we are extremely pleased to welcome Doug Brooks to assume our senior leadership role at Energy XXI. Doug’s impeccable reputation, extensive industry experience and clear track record of value creation as Chief Executive at other exploration and production companies make him the perfect fit for our Company. His skills are also highly complementary to those of Scott Heck, our Chief Operating Officer, who has an extensive offshore, engineering and operations background. We look forward to having the powerful combination of Doug and Scott at the top of Energy XXI as we develop and execute strategies to maximize stockholder value.”

Douglas E. Brooks, Chief Executive Officer and President remarked, “The confidence shown by the Board of Directors in asking me to lead their experienced technical and financial teams is greatly appreciated. Energy XXI is at an inflection point in its history since it has emerged from restructuring with a strong balance sheet that provides maximum flexibility for future value creation. I look forward to working with our Board, senior management, our technical and financial teams, and our stockholders as we plan and execute our new path forward.”

About the Company

Energy XXI Gulf Coast, Inc. is an independent oil and natural gas development and production company whose assets are primarily located in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico waters offshore Louisiana and Texas. The Company’s near-term strategy emphasizes exploitation of key assets, enhanced by its focus on financial discipline and operational excellence. To learn more, visit EGC’s website at www.EnergyXXI.com.