About Vanguard: The Management Team

Neil Ritson:

Chief Executive Officer 

An experienced Chief Executive with over 30 years working in the energy industry including 23 years with BP plc where he held roles as International Chief Geophysicist and Strategic Business Unit Manager in both Norway and Alaska.  In 1999 he was appointed to run Burlington Resources Inc. businesses in North Africa before becoming VP UK in 2001 and VP International in 2003.  Neil founded an energy sector consultancy business in 2004 before becoming Chief Executive Officer of the UK AIM listed company Regal Petroleum plc in 2006. Neil and his team were responsible for a four-fold increase in the market capital of Regal in 2007 which reached over $700 million. He resigned from Regal in late 2007 to found Vanguard Energy. Neil has a distinguished record of delivery in exploration technology, exploration discoveries, major construction projects and in M&A transactions.  Neil is 52 years old and in addition to Vanguard Energy is a director of PetroEnergy Limited and is the Chairman of Trustees of the Kensington Symphony Orchestra.

Gordon Stein:

Chief Financial Officer

Gordon is a Chartered Accountant with 30 years' experience in financial and audit management activities both in the UK and internationally. Until January 2008, Gordon was Chief Financial Officer of Regal Petroleum plc.  Previously Gordon was a founder, Director and CFO/Head of Finance of two UK based private oil companies, Acorn Oil & Gas Ltd and Fairfield Energy Ltd, for which he was instrumental in raising over US$260m to fund the businesses.  Earlier experience was gained working for LASMO plc, Monument Oil & Gas plc, Centrica plc and British Gas plc in a range of countries which have included the UK, Turkmenistan, Algeria, Tunisia and Venezuela.  With nearly 20 years' experience in upstream oil and gas, Gordon has developed a range of additional M&A, operational and management skills to enhance business performance and increase company value. Gordon is 49 years old.

Dave Scott:

Chief Operating Officer

Dave is a mechanical engineer with over 28 years' experience in oil and gas operations both in the UK and internationally. Dave worked with Neil and Gordon at Regal Petroleum until January 2008 where he was the Chief Operating Officer. Prior to working for Regal, Dave was the General Manager of Operations for Burlington Resources Inc. covering all operational activities run from the London office which were primarily production and drilling operations in Algeria and the East Irish Sea.   Dave was at Burlington for over eight years until the company was acquired by ConocoPhillips. Prior to Burlington Resources  Dave worked for both Conoco UK Ltd, Enterprise Oil and Hardy Oil engaged in various well operations activities and two major North Sea Projects, Conoco’s Hutton and Enterprise’s Nelson platforms. Dave has experience of operations in the UK, Italy, India, Australia, Algeria and more recently, Ukraine.  Dave is 51 years old.