Tamboran Resources Corporation has announced the appointment of Todd Abbott as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective January 15, 2026, as the company advances into a pivotal phase of development at the Beetaloo Basin in the Northern Territory.
Abbott succeeds Chairman Richard Stoneburner, who has served as interim CEO since 2025. Mr. Stoneburner will continue in his role as Chairman of the Board.
With more than 25 years of experience in upstream oil and gas, Abbott brings extensive expertise across unconventional shale operations, business planning, corporate strategy, and financial management.
His track record of driving operational performance and cost efficiency has positioned him as a leader well suited to guide Tamboran’s next stage of growth.
Prior to joining Tamboran, Abbott served as Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Seneca Resources Company, LLC, a prominent producer operating in the Marcellus and Utica shale regions of the Appalachian Basin.
During his tenure at Seneca, he was instrumental in reshaping organisational structures and operating processes to improve accountability and capital efficiency.
His leadership contributed to an approximate 10 per cent reduction in capital expenditure and an approximate 9 per cent increase in production within a single financial year, underscoring his ability to couple operational rigour with strategic foresight.
Before Seneca, Mr. Abbott held senior operating positions at Marathon Oil Corporation and Pioneer Natural Resources, where he oversaw production and operational teams in major U.S. oil and gas basins, including the Permian Basin, Eagle Ford, and Alaskan operations.
His experience in leading large-scale projects and driving performance improvements has earned him recognition as a pragmatic and results-oriented executive within the energy sector.
Stoneburner highlighted the importance of Abbott’s appointment as Tamboran advances plans to develop its Beetaloo Basin gas resources, a nationally significant unconventional gas formation viewed as critical to Australia’s future energy security.
“Todd brings over two decades of upstream experience with a strong record of operational leadership, capital discipline, safety and stewardship,” Stoneburner said.
“His background at Seneca, Marathon and Pioneer demonstrates an ability to improve productivity while lowering costs, which aligns with our focus on safe and efficient execution and delivering value for shareholders from our Beetaloo Basin development.
“We are delighted to welcome Todd as CEO of Tamboran as we enter our development phase of the Beetaloo Basin, which aims to provide energy security to Territorians and Australia’s East Coast.”
The transition is viewed by industry observers as timely, as Tamboran prepares to ramp up its drilling and production activities in 2026 following a series of successful appraisal wells and infrastructure milestones.
Tamboran Resources has positioned itself as a leading independent gas developer focused on unlocking the vast unconventional gas potential of the Beetaloo Basin.
The project is expected to play a significant role in meeting growing domestic gas demand and reducing reliance on imports.
Abbott’s operational experience in North America’s major shale basins is seen as directly relevant to Tamboran’s ambitions.
The Beetaloo’s geological characteristics share several parallels with U.S. shale formations, where efficiency, cost management, and technological innovation have proven critical to commercial success.
In a statement marking his appointment, Abbott expressed enthusiasm for the opportunity to lead Tamboran through its next stage of transformation.
“I am thrilled for the opportunity to lead Tamboran Resources as the Company enters what I believe to be a very exciting phase of development,” Abbott said.
“The scale and opportunity that Tamboran has in the Beetaloo Basin, supported by the quality of the Board and management team, is what has attracted me to the CEO role.
“I look forward to working closely with all stakeholders, including Native Title Holders, Northern Territory Government, pastoralists and shareholders to deliver what I believe has the potential to be a world-class unconventional gas project.”
As the Australian gas market faces ongoing supply challenges and shifting regulatory expectations, Tamboran’s strategic focus on responsible, low-emission energy development aligns with the nation’s broader energy transition goals.
Share this story