Zhaikmunai (Kazakhstan) appoints Heinz Wendel Chief Operating Officer

/KASE, January 23, 12/ - LLP "Zhaikmunai" (Oral), whose bonds are officially listed at Kazakhstan Stock Exchange (KASE), provided KASE with the following press-release of January 23, 2012 today: quote Zhaikmunai LP (LSE: ZKM), the oil and gas exploration and production enterprise based in north-western Kazakhstan is pleased to announce the hiring of Mr. Heinz Wendel as Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Zhaikmunai LLP in Uralsk. Appointment of a New Chief Operating Officer (COO) In a planned senior management change, Mr. Heinz Wendel will replace existing COO, Mr. Eckhard Verseck, who is retiring. Mr. Wendel is an experienced oil and gas professional with significant management and technical experience. He joined Zhaikmunai with a proven track record of over 30 years. Mr. Wendel has assumed his new role following a planned handover with his retiring predecessor. After completing his studies in Azerbaijan (Oil & Gas Institute, Baku), Mr. Wendel served in various managerial and technical capacities in Germany, Poland, Russia and Kazakhstan. He was Technical Director of Kazgermunai in Kyzylorda, Kazakhstan, from 1998 to 2002. He subsequently held the positions of Head of Operations and Technology with East German EEG (Erdol-Erdgas Gommern) and later with GDF SUEZ E&P. Mr. Wendel is fluent in German, Russian and English. Zhaikmunai's former COO, Mr. Eckhard Verseck, who has served in this position since 2006, will continue to provide consultancy services to Zhaikmunai, more specifically with regard to Phase II of the Gas Treatment Facility (GTF). unquote [2012-01-23]