Pioneer Natural Resources, an independent oil and gas exploration and production company, has appointed two new members to its board of directors.

Effective immediately, the new appointments are Phillip Gobe and Royce Mitchell, who will serve as independent directors under the board's appointment for initial terms that expire at Pioneer's annual meeting of stockholders in 2015.

Gobe joined Energy Partners as chief operating officer in 2004 and became president in 2005, serving in those capacities until his retirement in 2007. He also served as a director of Energy Partners from November 2005 until May 2008.

Mitchell has been an executive consultant, focusing on advising management and audit committees of exploration and production companies, since 2005, except for the period from April 2008 through December 2008, when he served as CFO of Frac Tech Services. From 2002 to January 2005, he served as CFO and chief accounting officer of Key Energy Services.