Natural gas pipeline/credit: Zivica Kerkez/Shutterstock.com

An independent retail energy services company based in Houston announced earlier this month that its vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary will be resigning effective Dec. 31.

Gil Melman, who became the leader of Spark Energy Inc.'s legal department in 2014, will be resigning to pursue other opportunities, according to a news release announcing his resignation. It is not clear where he is going and a company representative declined to comment beyond the news release.

According to an SEC filing, Melman will receive 26 biweekly separation payments totaling $525,000.

Nathan Kroeker, Spark's president and CEO, said in the news release that he accepted Melman's resignation with “mixed feelings.”

“He has been an important member of Spark's management team for the past five years, and has been instrumental in our growth, our acquisitions, and our initial public offering. We wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors,” Kroeker said.

Before joining Spark Energy, Melman worked as the general counsel at Madagascar Oil Limited, according to his LinkedIn profile. He was also vice president and assistant general counsel at The Redstone Cos. from 2003 to 2007 and from 1999 to 2002 he was vice president and assistant general counsel at Enron Corp. Melman was also an associate at Vinson & Elkins in Houston. He graduated from the University of Texas Law School in 1993.

The company indicated that it has begun a search for Melman's replacement. However, in the meantime, the company's deputy general counsel, C. Alexis Keene, will take over as general counsel.

“We are very fortunate to have Alexis here at Spark,” Kroeker said in the news release. “With nearly three decades of experience, a deep knowledge of our business, and the trust and respect of her colleagues within the organization and throughout the industry, we expect a very smooth transition.”

Before joining Spark Energy, Keene, according to her LinkedIn profile, was the senior vice president and general counsel at EDF Energy Services. She has also worked as the managing director and general counsel of Augmentum Group. She has held other in-house roles at HP and worked as a partner at Reiter, Brunel & Dunn.  She graduated from the University of Houston Law Center in 1995.

Spark Energy is a natural gas and electric company founded in 1999. It operates in 19 states and serves 94 utility territories, according to the news release.