WPX Energy has named Richard E. (Rick) Muncrief as the company's next president and chief executive officer. The appointment is effective May 15, 2014. He also will join the WPX board following the company's annual meeting of shareholders on May 22, 2014.

Muncrief, 55, is a petroleum engineer who has more than 30 years of upstream and midstream energy experience, most recently as senior vice president of operations and resource development at Continental Resources where he oversaw corporate engineering, reservoir development, drilling, production operations and supply chain management. James J. Bender, who has been serving as WPX president, CEO and board member on an interim basis since December 2013, plans to retire upon completing the transition of his duties to Muncrief. WPX retained Spencer Stuart to assist the company in its search process for a new chief executive officer.