Collectively, Gran Tierra Energy's management team has over one hundred years of hands-on international exploration and production operations experience and success.
Management
Dana Coffield - President & CEO
Prior to joining Gran Tierra Energy in May 2005, Dana was Vice President of the Middle East Business Unit for EnCana Corporation, responsible for business development, exploration operations, commercial evaluations, government and partner relations, planning and budgeting, environment/health/safety, security and management of several overseas operating offices. He held various senior management positions for EnCana's predecessor, Alberta Energy Company, including petroleum exploration operations in five countries. Dana was previously with ARCO International for ten years, where he participated in exploration and production operations in North Africa, SE Asia and Alaska. He graduated from the University of South Carolina with an MSc and PhD in Geology and holds a BSc in Geological Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines. Dana is also a member of the AAPG, the CSPG, and is a Fellow of the Explorers Club.
Martin Eden - CFO
Mr. Eden has over twenty-six years experience in accounting and finance in the energy industry in Canada and overseas. He was most recently Chief Financial Officer of Artumas Group Inc. and has served as CFO of Chariot Energy Inc., Assure Energy Inc. and Geodyne Energy Inc., all publicly listed Canadian oil and gas companies. He was Controller and subsequently CFO of Kyrgoil Corporation and spent nine years with Nexen Inc. including three years as Finance Manager of the company's operations in Yemen and six years in Nexen's financial reporting and special projects areas in its Canadian head office. Martin has worked in public practice including two years as an audit manager for Coopers & Lybrand in East Africa. He holds a B.Sc. in Economics from Birmingham University, England, an MBA from Henley Management College/Brunel University, England, and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Alberta and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.
Shane O'Leary - Chief Operating Officer
Shane O’Leary joined Gran Tierra Energy as Chief Operating Officer effective March 2, 2009. Previously he was President and CEO of First Calgary Petroleums Ltd (FCP)until the sale of the company to the Italian major ENI in September 2008. Prior to his position with FCP, Mr. O’Leary served as VP and Business Unit Leader, Brazil, for EnCana where he led the Brazil team in the appraisal and evaluation of EnCana’s offshore reserves as well as the acquisition of new acreage. He was also the architect of a technology cooperation agreement with the Brazilian national oil company, Petrobras, involving numerous partnerships in offshore acreage in exchange for assistance to Petrobras in applying Canadian heavy oil production technology in Brazil. His additional experience includes 17 years working for BP/Amoco most recently as Program Manager of their Alaska Gas Business Unit and in Egypt as Vice President of Business Development. Mr. O’Leary has more than 30 years of experience in the oil and gas industry working projects in North America, the Middle East, Africa, South America, the Caspian and Trinidad.
Mr. O’Leary graduated from Queen’s University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemical Engineering and went on to obtain his MBA from the University of Western Ontario.
Rafael Orunesu - President, Gran Tierra Energy Argentina
Rafael was most recently Engineering Manager for Pluspetrol Norte SA, where he was responsible for planning and development operations in the Peruvian North jungle. He participated in numerous evaluation and asset purchase and sale transactions covering Latin America and North Africa with Pluspetrol. Rafael was previously with Pluspetrol in Argentina where he managed technical and economic evaluations for production operations. He began his career with YPF, initially as a geologist in the Austral Basin of Argentina and eventually as Chief of Exploitation Geology and Engineering for the Catriel Field in the Nuequ'en Basin, where he was responsible for drilling programs, workovers and secondary recovery projects. Rafael has a postgraduate degree in Reservoir Engineering and Exploitation Geology from Universidad Nacional de Buenos Aires and a degree in Geology from Universidad Nacional de la Plata, Argentina.
Julian Garcia - President, Gran Tierra Energy Colombia
Julian is a Colombian and has over 25 years experience in the oil and gas industry in Colombia and overseas with private and public entities. His extensive experience in all aspects of the petroleum industry, including exploration and production operations, commercial, finance, project management and strategic leadership. Julian joined Gran Tierra Energy in December 2009. Previously he was General Manager of Emerald Energy Plc Suc Colombia for 4.5 years responsible for operations and businesses of the company in Colombia and Peru. He has held a range of other progressively senior positions, technical and commercial, at oil companies including 10 years with BP and 4 years with Ecopetrol, and over 8 years at consulting firms and state agencies including the National Hydrocarbon Agency ANH, the Energy Regulatory and the National Planning authorities of Colombia . Julian holds a B.Sc. in Civil Engineering and a Masters in Economics from Universidad de Los Andes Colombia, a M.Sc. in Civil Engineering from Colorado State University USA, and an MBA from the University of Birmingham UK.
Júlio César Moreira - President, Gran Tierra Energy Brasil
Júlio is a native Brazilian and has over twenty-five years of experience working for international companies in Brasil and the USA. Prior to joining Gran Tierra Energy Inc, Júlio was Managing Director for IBV Brasil Petróleo Ltda, and Brasil Country Manager for EnCana Corporation. Júlio managed the operations start up of EnCana Corporation in Brasil, and was responsible for business development, government relations, joint venture partner relations, community relations, and also helped capture and manage assets which were later sold for a combined value of over US$500 million. Previous, Júlio was Brasil – Business Development & New Ventures Vice President for Unocal Corporation and also held senior management positions with Brookfield Brasil, Metallurg Inc. and Petrobras. Júlio was a Director for the Energy & Mining Committee of Canada Brasil Chamber of Commerce. He is a graduate of Fluminense Federal University in Rio de Janeiro and has a Marketing post-graduate degree from Rio Catholic University. Júlio holds an Executive MBA degree from Rio de Janeiro Federal University - UFRJ/COPPEAD and completed the Western Ontario’s Executive Management Program.