LONDON (ShareCast) - Two senior directors of Houston based oil and gas company Gulfsands Petroleum are to leave the company in the wake of the decision to move the company’s HQ to London.

Gulfsands has decided to move its head office to London with immediate effect to reflect the shift in the company’s focus to the Middle East. The company's assets and operations in the United States and the Gulf of Mexico will continue to be managed out of the Houston office.

“Relocation of our principal office and centre of operations to London is crucial to continuing with the rapid development of our Syrian assets specifically and our Middle Eastern ambitions generally,” said chairman Andrew West.

John Dorrier, chief executive officer, and David DeCort, chief financial officer, have decided not to make the move to London and have resigned their roles. They will step down from the board at the end of April, although both have agreed to make themselves available on a consultancy basis to enable a smooth transition in managerial responsibilities.

The board expects to announce replacements for Dorrier and DeCort in the near future. In the meantime Andrew West will function as Executive Chairman.

• News Channel