Rewrites throughout to include statement content

By David French

NEW YORK, May 5 (Reuters) - Gulfport Energy GPOR.N named Domenic Dell'Osso on Tuesday as the next chief executive of the U.S. natural gas-focused producer.

The move, confirming news published by Reuters earlier in the day, comes three months after Dell'Osso left the CEO role at larger rival Expand Energy EXE.O. Dell'Osso will assume the Gulfport job on May 28, according to a company statement.

"Gulfport is incredibly well-positioned with a high-quality, deep and concentrated asset base adjacent to growing demand centers, a strong balance sheet and a talented team from top to bottom," Dell'Osso said in the statement.

"The macro environment combined with the uniquely attractive elements of this company create the foundation for long-term success."

Known as Nick, Dell'Osso ran Expand Energy as well as Chesapeake Energy, which combined with Southwestern Energy in 2024 to create Expand. His departure, from a company he first joined in 2008 and which included more than a decade serving as chief financial officer of Chesapeake, was announced alongside news that Expand was set to move its headquarters to Houston from Oklahoma City by the middle of 2026.

Gulfport has been without a permanent CEO since it was announcedon March 9 that John Reinhart was leaving after three years atop the company. It has been run in the interim by a board committee headed by Chairman Timothy Cutt, who praised Dell'Osso as a "proven leader with the strategic vision, financial discipline and operational expertise to propel Gulfport forward".

Gulfport operates in Appalachian shale basins and Oklahoma's Midcontinent formation.