OREANDA-NEWS. May 23, 2014. Devon Energy Corporation (NYSE: DVN) announced the retirement of Vince White, senior vice president, communications and investor relations. White is scheduled to retire August 8, 2014.

Since joining Devon in 1993, White has directed the company’s investor relations programs as the company has grown from a small independent exploration and production company to a member of the Fortune 500. During that period, White managed the company’s relationships with key stakeholder groups through numerous mergers and acquisitions, divestitures and corporate financing activities.

“We thank Vince for his dedication to our mission and his many contributions to our success,” said John Richels, Devon’s president and chief executive officer. “Vince’s leadership of our investor relations and communications programs has been outstanding in every respect, with an uncompromised commitment to integrity.”

In a related move, Howard J. Thill has joined the company to fill the position created by White’s retirement. Thill, a 32-year veteran of the energy industry, including 15 years leading investor relations, communications and government relations efforts for major oil and gas concerns, joins Devon having most recently served as vice president of corporate, government and investor relations at Marathon Oil Corporation in Houston.

“Howard brings to Devon deep knowledge borne of extensive and varied experience in our industry,” Richels said. “We look forward to his contributions as we continue to navigate the opportunities before us.”

Prior to joining Marathon, Thill was director of investor relations with Phillips Petroleum Co. He began his career with Phillips in 1982 as a drilling fluids sales/service engineer. He subsequently held positions of increasing responsibility in natural gas operations, federal and international tax, chemical accounting, international finance and business development.

Thill is a certified public accountant with bachelor's degrees in accounting and marketing, as well as a master's degree in business administration from Oklahoma State University.