Platinum Explorer
Telephone: +971 4 449 3400
Facsimile: +1 281 404 4749
Telephone: +65 6768 6000
Facsimile: +65 6768 6001
Douglas E. Stewart has served as our General Counsel and Corporate Secretary since June 2016.
He previously served as the company’s Chief Financial Officer from May 15, 2020 until August 1, 2023.
Prior to joining Vantage Mr. Stewart served in the following capacities:
Stallion Oilfield Holdings, Inc.
Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary (2007-2016)
Occidental Petroleum Corporation
International business development group.
Vinson & Elkins LLP
Corporate finance and securities law
Douglas Stewart, Chief Financial Officer, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary
Mr. Harrell joined the Company in September 2023 as our Chief Accounting Officer.
Prior to joining Vantage Mr. Harrell served in the following capacities:
Cameron LNG
Assistant Controller (2019 – 2023)
American Midstream, LP
Director of Accounting (2016-2019)
Transocean
Various roles of increasing responsibility in Audit, Treasury, Internal Controls and Accounting (2005 -2016)
Alaric Harrell, Chief Accounting Officer
Mr. Toma has served as our Chief Executive Officer since August 29, 2016.
Prior to joining Vantage Mr. Toma served in the following capacities:
Transocean
Executive Vice President – Chief of Staff (2012 – 2013)
Executive Vice President – Operations (2011 – 2012)
Executive Vice President – Global Business (2010 – 2011)
Senior Vice President – Marketing and Planning (2009 – 2010)
Schlumberger
Various Roles (1986 – 2009)
Ihab Toma, Chief Executive Officer
Mr. Bauer joined the Company in April 2014 as our Southeast Asian QHSE Manager. He was promoted to Director of QHSE in December 2016 before taking on the role of VP of QHSE & Sustainability in July 2022
Prior to joining Vantage Mr. Bauer served in the following capacities:
RPS Energy
Principle Safety and Risk Consultant – Australasia (2011-2014)
COSL Drilling Pan Pacific
QHSE Manager (2009-2010)
WorleyParsons Services
Safety Consultancy Manager (2006-2009)
Wayne Bauer, Vice President of QHSE and Sustainability
Mr. Eliassen is the Founder and Principal of SNC Winther Holdings Ltd, a private investment company. Mr. Eliassen served as an investment director at Seatankers Services (UK) LLP, a holding company of assets across several business sectors, from 2016 to 2023. In addition, Mr. Eliassen served as the Chief Executive Officer of ST Energy Transition I Ltd. (NYSE: STET), a special purpose acquisition company targeting energy transition and clean energy technology, from December 2021 until March 2023. Mr. Eliassen previously worked as a Partner at Pareto Securities between 2011 and 2015 and was responsible for executing public and private capital markets transactions with an emphasis on the energy sector. Mr Eliassen currently serves on the board of directors of KLX Energy Services Holding (NASDAQ: KLXE), and Golden Close Maritime. Previous experience includes serving on the Board of Directors of NorAm Drilling Company AS, Valaris Ltd., Seadrill Ltd., Aquadrill LLC (formerly known as Seadrill Partners LLC), Quintana Energy Services Inc. and Northern Drilling Ltd. Mr. Eliassen received a Master’s degree in Finance from the Norwegian School of Economics.
Gunnar W. Eliassen
Mr. Madsen is the Chief Executive Officer of CHC Group LLC. Prior to this, he served as Chief Executive Officer of Maersk Drilling from November 2016, overseeing the company’s successful merger with Nasdaq-listed Noble Corporation in October 2022. Mr. Madsen joined Maersk in 1990 and his career in offshore drilling spanned technical, operational and leadership roles. These included Operations Manager, Managing Director of Maersk Drilling in Norway, Chief Executive Officer of Maersk Supply Service, and Chief Operating Officer and Chief Executive Officer of Maersk Drilling. A Danish citizen, Mr. Madsen holds a Master’s degree in Science in Engineering from the Danish Technical University and an MBA from IMD and the University of Geneva.
Jørn Peter Madsen
Nils E. Larsen is a Senior Operating Adviser working with The Carlyle Group’s U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund. Prior to partnering with The Carlyle Group, Mr. Larsen served in a variety of senior executive positions with Tribune Company, including the President and Chief Executive Officer of Tribune Broadcasting and as Co-President of Tribune Company. Before joining Tribune Company, Mr. Larsen served as a Managing Director of Equity Group Investments, LLC focusing on investments in the media, transportation, energy, retail grocery and member loyalty and rewards sectors. Mr. Larsen started his career at CS First Boston where he focused on the capital requirements and derivative products needs of U.S. financial institutions and non-U.S. based entities. Mr. Larsen has significant governance experience in post-bankrupt entities. Mr. Larsen received his A.B. summa cum laude from Bowdoin College. Mr. Larsen serves as chairman of the Board’s Audit Committee and serves on the Board’s Compensation Committee.
Nils E. Larsen
Mr. Alessandro Di Marco joined the Company in December 2018 as Chief Information Officer
During the course of his career he managed successfully IT for various size Enterprises, directed product development for market leading software, created efficient world-wide support infrastructures and generated high revenue for consultancy service firms.
Prior to joining Vantage Mr. Alessandro Di Marco served in the following capacities
COSL Drilling Pan Pacific (2009-2017)
Head of IT
Premium Drilling (2008-2009)
Head of IT
Columbus (2004-2005)
Chief Technical Officer
Spectec (1994-2004, 2006-2008)
Various roles (Principal Consultant, Product Manager, Managing Director)
Alessandro Di Marco, Chief Information Officer
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Mr. Blattner has served as our Vice President & Managing Director – Corporate Development & Managed Services since 1 July 2022.
From August 2013 until June 2022, Mr. Blattner served in various roles in Strategic Planning, Treasury, Corporate Development (M&A) and Management of the Managed Services Business Segment.
Prior to joining Vantage Mr. Blattner served in the following capacities:
Transocean
Various roles of increasing responsibility in Audit, Financial Planning & Analysis and Marketing (2006-2013).
Rafael Blattner, Vice President & Managing Director – Corporate Development & Managed Services
Rafael Blattner, Vice President & Managing Director – Corporate Development & Managed Services
Mr. Massie joined the Company in 2017 and has served as our Vice President of Human Resources since 1 January 2018.
Prior to joining Vantage Mr. Massie served in the following capacities:
Dynamic People Strategies Ltd
Independent Consultant; Executive Coach and Interim Leader (2016-2017)
Maxwell Drummond International
Principal Consultant; Executive Search and Consultancy (2013-2016)
Seadrill Management AS.
Senior Vice President Human Resources and Internal Communications (2010-2013)
Acergy MS Ltd
HR Director Corporate and Offshore (2006-2010)
Derek Massie, Vice President of Human Resources
Mr. Semple has served as our Vice President – Marketing and since July 2022.
Since joining Vantage in 2008, he served in various operational, technical and marketing roles, including
Rig Manager from 2012 – 2015 and Marketing Director from 2015 – 2022.
Prior to joining Vantage Mr. Semple served in the following capacities:
Transocean
Graduate Rig Engineer Program (2006 – 2008)
Alisdair Semple, Vice President – Marketing
Mr. Halkett has served as our Chief Operating Officer since January 15, 2008.
Prior to joining Vantage Mr. Halkett served in the following capacities:
Transocean
Division Manager, Northern Europe
(2003 – 2007)
Operations Manager, Gulf of Mexico
(2001 – 2003) & in UK (1996 – 2001)
Forasol-Foramer
Various Operations & Business Roles
(1988 – 1996)
Douglas Halkett, Senior Advisor to CEO
Mr. Thomson has served as our Vice President Marketing and Business Development since July 2016.
Prior to this he served as our Vice President of Technical services, Supply chain and Projects from March 8, 2008 until July 2016.
Prior to joining Vantage Mr. Thomson served in the following capacities:
Transocean
Asset Operations Manager UK, Europe and Africa Technical Support Manager, New Build Project Manager and other various roles in Engineering, Project Management & Technical Support.
(1993-2008)
Bill Thomson, Chief Commercial Officer/ Chief Technical Officer
Mr. Dawson-Smith has served as our Vice President of Operations since 1st July 2022.
Since joining joined Vantage in 2008, he has held multiple roles, including Director of Projects with a focus on
new build deep-water units, and, in 2016, he became our Director of Operations responsible for the global rig fleet.
Prior to joining Vantage Mr. Dawson-Smith served in the following capacities:
Transocean (2001-2008)
Various roles of increasing responsibility in Operations, Operations Integrity,
Asset Management and Group Project Management.
Guy Dawson-Smith, Vice President of Operations
Thomas R. Bates, Jr. has 40 years of operational experience in the oil and gas industry, having held executive leadership positions at several major energy companies. He previously served as Group President at Baker Hughes, Chief Executive Officer at Weatherford-Enterra, and President of the Anadrill division of Schlumberger. A current director of TETRA Technologies, Mr. Bates also has served as Chairman of the Board of Hercules Offshore, Inc. in addition to serving on several other public company energy-related boards. He also was Managing Director and then Senior Advisor at Lime Rock Partners, an energy-focused private equity investment firm. Mr. Bates has a doctorate in mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan. He is currently an Adjunct Professor and co-chair of the advisory board for the Energy MBA Program at the Neeley School of Business at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth. Mr. Bates serves as Chairman of the Board and serves on the Board’s Audit Committee
Thomas R. Bates Jr.
Mr. Ihab Toma has served as a member of the Board of Directors and as Chief Executive Officer of the Company since August 29, 2016. Mr. Toma has over 30 years of experience in the oilfield industry. From 2014 until 2016, he served as a senior advisor to First Reserve Corporation, a leading global private equity and infrastructure firm exclusively focused on energy. Previously, Mr. Toma served from 2009 until 2013 in various executive capacities at Transocean, as Executive Vice President – Chief of Staff, Executive Vice President – Operations, Executive Vice President – Global Business and Senior Vice President – Marketing and Planning. Prior to his time at Transocean, from 1986 until 2009, Mr. Toma served in multiple capacities at Schlumberger. He served as Vice President, Sales and Marketing for Europe, Africa and Caspian for Schlumberger Oilfield Services from April 2006 to August 2009. From 2000 to 2006, he led Schlumberger’s Information Solutions business in various capacities, including President, Vice President – Sales and Marketing, Vice President – Information Management and Vice President – Europe, Africa and CIS Operations. Mr. Toma began his career with Schlumberger in 1986. In the past five years he held Directorships with 3T/Drilling Systems (UK) Ltd. (June 2015 to present), Paradigm Geophysical Corp (October 2013 to April 2018), AGR Group (Vice Chairman from January 2015 to December 2018), Engström & Engstöm (Chairman from May 2014 to May 2017), Fara-Rever (January 2018 to February 2021) and Apex International (January 2019 to present).
He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering from Cairo University, Egypt
Ihab Toma
L. Spencer Wells is a Founder and Partner of Drivetrain Advisors, a provider of fiduciary services to members of the alternative investment community, with a particular expertise in restructuring and turnarounds. Previously, he served as a senior advisor and partner with TPG Special Situations Partner where he helped manage a $2.5B portfolio of liquid and illiquid distressed credit investments employing a “distressed for control” investment strategy. Mr. Wells previously served as a Partner for Silverpoint Capital where he managed a $1.3B investment portfolio consisting primarily of stressed and distressed bank loans and bonds focusing on the Oil and Gas Exploration and Production, Oilfield Services, Power Generation, Financial Institutions and Chemicals industries, among others. He previously served as an Analyst on the Distressed Debt Desks at Union Bank of Switzerland, Deutsche Bank and Bankers Trust. Mr. Wells has served on numerous public and private company boards including Advanced Emissions Solutions, Inc., Syncora Guarantee, Ltd., and Affinion Group, Inc., among others. Mr. Wells received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Wesleyan University and his MBA from the Columbia Business School. Mr. Wells serves as chairman of the Board’s Compensation Committee and serves on the Board’s Audit Committee.
L. Spencer Wells
Paul Gordon is the Founder and Managing Member of Hillspoint Advisors LLC. Hillspoint provides fiduciary services, including board of director representation and strategic advisory, for private and public businesses globally. Hillspoint focuses on driving value-added returns for stakeholders via capital structure optimization, governance, incentive alignment, operational improvement and mergers and acquisitions.
Mr. Gordon previously served as a Managing Director and Head of the Portfolio Group at Anchorage Capital Group, L.L.C. where he worked with management and boards of companies where Anchorage was a significant investor. At these companies Mr. Gordon’s responsibilities included governance, operational oversight and value creation and he served as a board member or board-level advisor for both public and private companies in a broad range of industries. Mr. Gordon was also founding member of Anchorage’s CLO and CBO Investment Committee.
Prior to joining Anchorage, Mr. Gordon was a Managing Director and Portfolio Manager at S.A.C. Capital Advisors, LLC and began his investing career at Cerberus Capital Management, L.P. Mr. Gordon spent the first part of his professional career in investment banking and leveraged finance. Mr. Gordon received an M.B.A. from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a B.A. from Cornell University where he graduated magna cum laude.
Paul A. Gordon