Rockhopper Exploration plc announced the appointments, with effect from 1 October 2023, of Simon Thomson as Non-Executive Chair and Paul Mayland as an Independent Non-Executive Director. Simon is a highly experienced oil and gas executive. He served as Chief Executive Officer of Cairn Energy PLC ("Cairn") (subsequently Capricorn Energy PLC) from 2011 to 2023, having joined Cairn in 1995.

During his tenure as Chief Executive Officer, Simon participated in and led multiple international corporate transactions, and delivered substantial cash returns to shareholders generated from organic growth opportunities. Simon also has significant experience in the successful leadership of complex international arbitrations and legal disputes, including the successful collection of USD 1.2 billion in association with a dispute with the Government of India. Paul is a Chartered Engineer with over 30 years' experience in the oil and gas industry, including working with BG Group and Vermillion Energy, and most recently with Cairn where he held the role of Chief Operating Officer for over ten years, before leaving in April 2023.

Paul has a proven track record in the upstream energy industry, having directly overseen five final investment decisions ("FID") whilst at Cairn alone, including three FPSO projects, one platform and one subsea tieback. As previously notified, Keith Lough, Non-Executive Chair, and John Summers, Non-Executive Director, will step down from their respective positions on the Board, in line with good corporate governance, having served for over nine years. Keith and John will formally leave the Board on 30 September 2023.