Tony Iannello

Integrated energy company Aviva Corporation Ltd has appointed former Western Power chief Tony Iannello as a non-executive director.

WHEN Celebrate WA announced Western Australia's Citizen of Year awards for 2009 two weekends ago the presence of the University of Western Australia would not have escaped the attention of many.

Aviva Corporation is on the hunt for new resource opportunities as several managers leave and some directors take a pay cut, following the decision to sell its flagship Coolimba power project.

Empire Oil & Gas is facing a board upheaval with its biggest shareholder and joint venture partner ERM Power calling a meeting of shareholders to consider removing Empire's executive chairman and two other directors.

The war of words between Empire Oil & Gas and its joint venture partner ERM Power continues, with Empire directors warning shareholders that ERM lacks the experience needed to guide an oil and gas company.

ERM Power says it will seek to recover legal costs paid by Empire Oil & Gas for its directors' personal legal actions against shareholders as a showdown between the two companies looms at a general meeting next month.

Empire Oil & Gas says a move by its biggest shareholder ERM Power to replace Empire directors with its own representatives has compromised its relationships with contractors and caused disruption to the business.

Empire Oil & Gas has conceded defeat in its bid to stave off efforts by major shareholder ERM Power to overthrow its board, saying it now believes ERM's proposal is the best way forward for the company.

Empire Oil and Gas shareholders showed their overwhelming lack of support today towards the company’s recently ousted directors by lodging a massive vote against the remuneration report.

ERM Power's Kent Quinlan has been seconded to the role of interim chief executive at Empire Oil & Gas as they look to permanently fill the role in the near future.

Empire Oil & Gas' new management team has taken the company's former directors to court in a bid to recover funds used to bankroll defamation proceedings against Empire shareholders.

Empire Oil & Gas has appointed former Woodside Petroleum executive Stuart Brown to its board as the company's new management looks to recruit experienced directors to guide its future.

Empire Oil & Gas has appointed an independent chief executive to lead the business following a board overhaul last year which claimed the scalps of each of its former directors.

Exploration firm Energia Minerals says it has received shareholder approval to place $6 million towards its flagship Gorno zinc project in Italy, with pre-development activities planned to begin within six weeks.

Some of Perth’s top company directors and dealmakers, including Michael Smith, Ian Cochrane, Michael Ashforth and Tony Iannello have been recruited to help run prominent family companies.

Empire Oil & Gas has kicked off a $15.7 million capital raising to fund new drilling at its flagship Red Gully North project and evaluate other projects in the Perth Basin near Gingin.

David Rowe and Nicole Lockwood have been appointed directors of Water Corporation, while Michael Hollett has replaced Tony Iannello as deputy chair.Mr Rowe currently serves as executive general manager, corporate affairs for BGC. He was deputy chair of LandCorp from 2011 to 2012.

Mineral Resources has bolstered its new relationship with Empire Oil & Gas, offering a $15.1 million facility to replace a previous deal with Viburnum Capital.

Dissident shareholders are seeking to shake up the board of Empire Oil & Gas at the energy company’s annual general meeting next month.

Chalice Gold Mines has made some board and management changes aimed at unlocking the value of the company’s prospective gold and base metal projects and a strong balance sheet.