Adelaide-based Beach Energy has appointed a new managing director.

Woodside Petroleum senior executive Rob Cole will replace Beach’s long-standing managing director Reg Nelson who will step down from the position on 1 July 2015.

Cole has been at Woodside since 2006, most recently as executive director and executive vice-president, corporate and commercial.

He has been appointed on a fixed salary of $1.2 million before incentives.

Nelson has led the Cooper Basin-based mid-cap oil and gas player for nearly 25 years.

In a statement, Beach Energy said that before joining Woodside, Cole had more than 21 years’ experience in corporate energy and resources law.

Beach chairman Glenn Davis paid tribute to “legend” Nelson.

“Reg Nelson has led Beach Energy for nearly 25 years, and in that time has transformed Beach from a company on the brink of liquidation, to a $1.4 billion ASX top 100 company,” Davis said.

“Beach is now Australia’s largest onshore oil producer and a leader in Australian shale and basin centre gas exploration.”

He said Nelson’s achievements went beyond his leadership at Beach.

“Reg is truly a legend of the oil and gas industry, and is frequently sought after for his knowledge, advice and expertise,” he said.

“His generosity of time has mean that those within the industry have benefited from Reg’s wealth of experience and knowledge, and I see first-hand the positive impact this has had on those around him.”

– with AAP