Bakken oil player Continental Resources appointed an exploration director as its new president after former boss Rick Bott resigned to pursue other interests.

Jack Stark, who for 16 years served as senior vice president of exploration, takes over as president and chief operating officer at a company with the largest portfolio in the Bakken oil reserve in North Dakota.

Chief Executive Officer Harold Hamm said in a statement Stark has been a "pioneer" in unlocking oil from the shale basins in North Dakota, Oklahoma and elsewhere in the region.

"This new role will expand his operational leadership, positioning him to continue playing a critical role in leading Continental as we execute ahead of schedule on our five year plan, and develop our deep inventory into the future," Hamm said Wednesday.

Bakken said second quarter production from Bakken totaled 108,573 barrels of oil equivalent per day, a 23 percent increase year-on-year. Cumulative oil production from the reserve area passed the 1 billion barrel mark for Continental during the first quarter.

Quarterly profits for the second quarter, however, were down 68 percent.

Former COO Bott resigned last week "to pursue other options."