AlaskaGov. Bill Walker said John Hendrix, former Apache Corp. general manager in Alaska, has beenappointed as his chief oil and gas adviser.

Hendrix'srole under the newly created cabinet-level position will include helping tofacilitate a mutually beneficial conversation between the industry and thestate at a time when both are trying to come to terms with low oil prices andproduction, according to a July 18 news release.

Priorto joining Apache, Hendrix held several engineering and managerial positions atBP plc. He alsoserved as a board member and vice-president of the Alaska Oil and GasAssociation.