Natural gas engine specialist Westport Innovations Inc. has appointed Philip Hodge, formerly vice president and general counsel of the company, to serve on its board of directors.

Hodge is currently president, CEO and director of Canada-based oil and gas company Pine Cliff Energy Ltd., and he was previously vice president of business development at Penn West Exploration. Prior to that, Hodge was a managing director at Mackie Research Capital Corp. and J.F. Mackie & Co.

"We are pleased to have Phil back at Westport to serve on our board," says John Beaulieu, chairman of Westport Innovations. "Phil demonstrated strong leadership at Westport through developing and managing strategic partnerships with various industry partners, and acted in a key role in the Cummins Westport and Weichai Westport joint venture formation."