Atlantic Richfield Co. announced that Executive Vice...

Atlantic Richfield Co. announced that Executive Vice President William E. Wade Jr. will now run all of Arco’s exploration and production operations, including Arco Alaska Inc.

The Los Angeles-based oil company also announced that Executive Vice President James A. Middleton, who had been in charge of the Alaska operations, will continue to run Arco Products Co. and Arco Transportation Co., as well as taking on Arco Coal Co. and Arco Aluminum Inc., which had previously been under Wade.

Wade has also assigned Marlan W. Downey, president of Arco International Oil & Gas Co., to make major decisions about exploration in Alaska.

The appointment of Downey, an experienced oil explorer, brings both Alaskan and worldwide oil-hunt efforts under the same executive. “Marlan will play a critical role in the allocation of available exploration capital and judging the relative desirability of spending among the upstream companies,” Wade said in a statement.

San Diego Gas & Electric Co. said its president, Jack Thomas, will retire April 1. His position will be filled by SDG&E; Chairman and Chief Executive Thomas Page.

Thomas, who joined SDG&E; in 1957 as a junior engineer, announced in December, 1992, that he would retire sometime this year. He has served as president since January, 1992.

Phillips Petroleum Co. said W.W. Allen will replace C.J. Silas as chairman and chief executive when Silas retires in April.

Allen, currently president and chief operating officer, will be succeeded by J.J. Mulva, senior vice president and chief financial officer. Mulva will remain CFO of the Bartlesville, Okla.-based company.

Both appointments are effective May 1.