HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May. 14, 2012-- ZaZa Energy Corporation (“the Company” or “ZaZa”) (NASDAQ: ZAZA) today announced that the Board of Directors has appointed Herbert C. Williamson III as Chairman of the Board of Directors. Mr. Williamson was already serving as an Independent Director on the ZaZa Board and as Chairman of the Audit Committee.

Mr. Craig McKenzie, Chief Executive Officer, said, “Herb has been a long-time member of the Board and we are pleased that he has accepted the role of Chairman. With extensive industry and financial services experience, we look forward to his continued contributions to the Company.”

Mr. Williamson has served as an Independent Director of ZaZa Energy (and its predecessor company, Toreador Resources) since 2006. Most recently, he served as a consultant to Petrie Parkman and Company for new business development. Previously, Mr. Williamson served as a Director and Interim Chief Financial Officer of Merlon Petroleum Company, a Director and Chief Financial Officer of Seven Seas Petroleum, and a Director in the Energy Group of Credit Suisse. Additionally, he serves as a Director of Eagle Rock Energy Partners, LLC, a domestic U.S. midstream and upstream oil and gas company, and served as Vice Chairman and Executive Vice President at Parker & Parsley Petroleum Company. Mr. Williamson holds an MBA degree from Harvard Business School and a BA degree from Ohio Wesleyan University.

About ZaZa Energy Corporation

Headquartered in Houston, Texas, with offices in Corpus Christi, Texas and Paris, France, ZaZa Energy Corporation is a publicly traded exploration and production company with primary assets in the Eagle Ford, Eaglebine and Paris Basin resource plays. More information about the Company may be found at www.zazaenergy.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this news release are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. ZaZa intends that all such statements be subject to the “safe-harbor” provisions of those Acts. Many important risks, factors and conditions may cause ZaZa’s actual results to differ materially from those discussed in any such forward-looking statement. These risks include, but are not limited to, estimates of reserves, estimates of production, future commodity prices, exchange rates, interest rates, geological and political risks, drilling risks, product demand, transportation restrictions, actual recoveries of insurance proceeds, the ability of ZaZa to obtain additional capital, and other risks and uncertainties described in the company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The historical results achieved by ZaZa are not necessarily indicative of its future prospects. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Source: ZaZa Energy Corporation

Investor:
Tony Vermeire, +33 1 4703 3424
tony.vermeire@zazaenergy.com
or
Corporate:
Shirley Z. Anderson, +214 559-3933
shirley.anderson@zazaenergy.com