Eagle Rock Energy Partners said its senior vice president and chief financial officer suffered a serious accident while on vacation last week. It added that the extent of the injuries to the executive, Richard W. FitzGerald, was “unknown at this time.” However, officials at the Houston-based natural gas company reported they will keep FitzGerald, 53, away from his activities at Eagle Rock “for a period of time.”
The company did not disclose the nature of the injuries, but it did say that the severity of the injuries has not been determined. “Our prayers for a speedy recovery go out to Rick and his family during this difficult time and we are hopeful that he will shortly return to his normal activities at Eagle Rock,” said Joseph A. Mills, chairman and chief executive officer.
While FitzGerald is recovering, the company named Alfredo Garcia as acting chief financial officer, “in order to safeguard the integrity and day to day functioning of Eagle Rock’s financial and accounting processes.” Garcia will retain his position as senior vice president of corporate development. He previously held the CFO position at Eagle Rock’s predecessor entities from February 2004 through August 2006, when FitzGerald was named finance chief.
The company said Garcia was instrumental in early-stage consolidation, acquisitions growth, and development of Eagle Rock’s predecessor entities leading to the company’s initial public offering in October 2006. FitzGerald is the former CFO of Natco Group, and held management positions with Universal Compression, MidCon Corp, and KN Energy.
Eagle Rock is a midstream and upstream energy partnership engaged in gathering, compressing, treating, processing, transporting and selling natural gas; as well as transporting natural gas liquids, and acquiring, developing, and producing oil and gas interests.