Preng Associates Fills Legal Position for Weatherford International
April 17, 2025 – Houston-based Preng & Associates has helped to recruit David B. Gooch as assistant general counsel, global ethics & compliance of NASDAQ-traded Weatherford International plc in Houston, TX. Mr. Gooch brings over 20 years of diverse legal and executive leadership experience, having served in senior roles at Schlumberger Limited (SLB) and M-I SWACO. His career began in private practice as a trial attorney with several respected firms, where he specialized in corporate civil litigation, admiralty, product liability, and employment law.
During his tenure at SLB, Mr. Gooch held a variety of global leadership roles, including legal director, deputy general counsel, and general counsel for multiple business segments and geographic regions. He was instrumental in overseeing major M&A transactions, external investigations, and high-stakes litigation across a global footprint. His expertise spans compliance, trade and customs, governance, sanctions, and high-risk operations—consistently supporting executive decision-making and driving operational excellence through legal innovation. Mr. Gooch also led global teams of lawyers and compliance professionals across North America, Europe, Asia, and Latin America, where he developed and implemented global compliance programs and modernized legal operations through the integration of technology.
In addition to his professional experience, Mr. Gooch is a retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army National Guard, having served in various command and staff roles, including two combat deployments. He holds a juris doctor from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law, a master of business administration (MBA) with a focus in data analytics from Louisiana State University, and a master of laws in business transactions from the University of Alabama School of Law.
Weatherford International is a global energy services company providing equipment and services used in the drilling, evaluation, well construction, completion, production, intervention, and responsible abandonment of wells in the oil and natural gas exploration and production industry as well as new energy platform. Operating in approximately 75 countries, the company answers the challenges of the energy industry with its global talent network of approximately 17,000 team members and approximately 350 operating locations, including manufacturing, research and development, service, and training facilities.
Preng & Associates, founded in 1980, is the only retainer-based, international executive search firm specializing solely in the energy industry. The firm’s experience spans the entire energy value chain – from the well head to the wall socket. Its subsector verticals have specific expertise in oil and gas (upstream, midstream, and downstream), oilfield equipment and services, power and utilities, renewables, engineering and construction, and industrials. Preng & Associates has conducted more than 4,000 engagements for over 900 companies and placed individuals for board, executive management, and professional positions in 92 countries.
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David Preng has been president and CEO of Preng & Associates since its inception in 1980. Previously, he spent six years in the executive search industry with two international and one national search firm. Mr. Preng has worked on over 2,000 energy-related searches throughout the world ranging from board and senior executive to managerial and senior technical positions.
Laura Preng joined Preng & Associates in 2011 after working several years as a recruiter for another energy recruiting firm and has led engagements in the upstream, downstream, midstream, and service and equipment sectors. Prior to entering the search industry, she spent more than 12 years honing her interviewing skills as a television news reporter and anchor for the CBS affiliate in Jackson, Mississippi, and the NBC affiliate in Nashville, TN.
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Preng Associates also recently assisted Key Energy Services, Inc. with the recruitment of Robert J. Mackenzie as senior vice president, chief financial officer, and treasurer. Mr. Mackenzie brings a proven track record of strategic financial planning, operational excellence, and leadership across both corporate finance and capital markets. Most recently serving as director of financial planning & analysis at RPC Inc., he was instrumental in transforming the company’s forecasting models, leading cross-functional planning initiatives, and supporting M&A activity, including the successful due diligence and integration of the Spinnaker Cementing acquisition.
Key Energy Services provides a wide array of leading-edge energy production solutions and services. Through their highly trained and experienced crews, technical expertise, state-of-the-art data analytics, and fit for purpose equipment, Key enables America’s E&P companies, from small independents to majors, to get the most out of the life of their wells.
Related: Preng & Associates Fills Senior Positions for Ring Energy
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
