Expand Energy names Daniel E. Brown as permanent President and CEO
Brown, who most recently ran Chord Energy and before that Oasis Petroleum, takes over October 26 from interim chief Michael A. Wichterich
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Expand Energy has named Daniel E. Brown President and Chief Executive Officer, effective October 26. He replaces Michael A. Wichterich, who has served as Interim President and CEO since February 2026 and will return to his role as Non-Executive Chairman.
Brown most recently served as President and CEO of Chord Energy Corporation, from July 2024 to October 2026, and before that led Oasis Petroleum.
Under his offer letter, Brown will receive an annual base salary of $1,000,000, a target bonus of 125% of base salary, and an annual long-term incentive award with a target value of $8,750,000. He will also receive a make-whole award combining RSUs valued at $4,726,662 and PSUs valued at $10,925,584, together worth roughly $15.7 million.
The appointment ends an interim stretch that began in February 2026, when Wichterich took on the chief executive role in addition to chairing the board. His return to a purely non-executive chairman position separates oversight from day-to-day management again. By choosing Brown, who led another Permian-focused shale producer, over an internal candidate, the board signalled it wanted outside operating experience at the top. The size and speed of the compensation package suggest directors moved to secure him quickly rather than negotiate a smaller transition deal.