Fox Petroleum Inc announces it’s newly appointed Directors and Committee Members. The new Board is comprised of individuals that account for almost two hundred years of international oil and gas experience. The new directors are John Spence, Jonathan Wood, Michael Rose, Robert Frost, and William MacNee. Richard Bullock resigned as a director and Chairman of Fox and Richard Moore was appointed as Fox’s new Chairman. The new Board consists of seven members in total including three executive directors and four independent directors, and independent majority required by stock exchanges such as the AMEX.
Fox also established an audit committee, a compensation committee and a nominating committee and appointed three members to each committee. Fox also appointed William MacNee as its Chief Operating Officer and Alexander Craven as its Compliance Officer. This restructuring of the Board will assist Fox in progressing its business plans and in meeting stock exchange listing requirements if Fox applies for the listing on another stock exchange.
“When Alex Craven (VP Finance) asked me to put my best team together for the Fox project, it was a big request,” said Fox CEO Richard Moore. “Over thirty years, I have worked with and for some of the biggest names in the business. Thankfully I can still call upon the elder statesmen for advice and am still in contact with those still active in the oil and gas business. The Fox team we’ve assembled projects individual and collective strength. They bring experience in over 40 countries worldwide, nearly two hundred years working in the international oil and gas arena, over one billion barrels of oil and several trillion cubic feet of gas production to their credit—specifically in the USA and UK sectors where Fox concentrates its efforts."
John Spence – Independent Director – Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominating Committee (Chairman)
John Spence is nearing 40 years of industry experience, involving every level and aspect of drilling operations. For 25 years, John drilled locations across the United States, before going international for the second half of his career, as a senior manager and member of the world-renowned Parker drilling team contracting to majors, such as Chevron, Exxon and other giant companies.
Internationally, John’s teams achieved excellence and acclaim, with successful drilling campaigns in Russia, the Ukraine and Sakhalin. In 2003, his team set new international standards by drilling a production well of 3200m in Kazakhstan from spud to total depth in a World Record time of 8.6 days. John’s familiarity of all drilling methods, helped aid his specialty of reducing drilling times including a run of saving 21 days per well over the course of a six-well program in Russia, and 10-12 days per well while drilling in Kazakhstan. During the span of 2000-2004, John and his team brought oil to surface on 43 consecutive wells in the Karakuduk field.
Director John Spence described his role with the company by stating, “My accomplishments are a team effort. Through the proper analysis and understanding of the wells, we can save time and money by introducing our knowledge and experience without compromising safety. This optimization of our resources decreases drilling time, leads to lower drilling costs and earlier production of oil and gas.”
Jonathan Wood – Independent Director – Audit Committee (Chairman) and Compensation Committee (Chairman)
Jonathan Wood has extensive experience in financial management, negotiating with institutions and government authorities, creating accounting systems, restructuring finances, putting hedges in place, conducting due diligence and reporting structures.
His international work in the oil and gas industry has included three years on Sakhalin Island (the largest island off the East coast of Russia), six years in Kazakhstan and the last three years in Uzbekistan. Jonathan currently works as Vice President of Soyuzneftegaz Vostok, an oil and gas company established by Russian ex-Energy Minister Yuri Shafranik. He also acts as the Director of Marketing and Finance for the company.
“Jonathan has established himself as an international finance manager,” said Richard Moore. “He’s worked with some high-ranking individuals in government and within the oil and gas industry and thus will be able to bring some of that expertise in negotiation and financial management to the table for Fox as it secures its place as an international producer.”
Michael (Mike) Rose – Independent Director – Compensation Committee and Nominating Committee
Mike Rose brings nearly 30 years of oil and gas industry experience as Director of Exploration and Development from a career that started as a well-site drilling operations geologist with Amoco in the UK North Sea, gaining recognition for his work on the development of the Leman gas field. Fox CEO Richard Moore brought Mike on board with Fox based on their previous work together at Hardy Oil and Gas where Mike’s expertise led to the successful development of the Elgin Field and to the drilling of the Johnston (gas), Bittern (oil) and Pine (oil) field discoveries, all of which are now in production. Mike also led the charge on the Donkerbroek discovery in Holland and further onshore UK fields such as Rempstone, Ravernspurn North (gas), Humbly Grove (oil), Bletchingley (gas), Dumbarton, Ettrick, Enoch, Cowden and Lingfield fields.
But, Mike’s biggest find was the Avington discovery which is still the largest UK onshore discovery in the last 20 years. His value has been realized through his consultation services provided to an array of larger-scale oil and gas companies such as BP, Amoco, Petrobras and Enterprise. As well, Mike was the co-founder of Wimbledon Oil where he and Bob Frost participated in 25 successful UK license applications, resulting in a high graded portfolio consisting of 10 UK licenses with net reserves of 174 million barrels.
“Mike’s thirty years in the industry have seen his working prospects in countries such as Holland, Germany, Norway, Denmark, Greece, Angola and the Congo. Australia and Canada as well as the remarkable track record in the UK North Sea,” said Fox CEO Richard Moore. “Mike is not just a super geologist with an excellent hydrocarbon-finding record. He has unsurpassed qualities as a specialist in prospect generation, petrophysics and project management and genuinely understands the “business” side of the Oil and Gas industry, a rare breed indeed.”
Robert (Bob) Frost – Independent Director – Audit Committee and Nominating Committee
Bob Frost brings an extensive amount of UK Offshore experience to the Board as Director of Geosciences. His path crossed with Fox CEO Richard Moore’s in the past as they shared interest in the UK Offshore 211/17 block and its neighboring oil fields. That interest led to their joint efforts with Fox to secure a farm-in on the prospect where Fox is scheduled to drill.
Bob began his career as a seismologist before moving on to the British National Oil Corporation in Glasgow (BNOC) as part of their Exploration team, where he learned the ways of the UK sector in the oil and gas industry. Upon the breakup of the BNOC, Bob joined British Petroleum (BP) where his interpretations led to the discovery of the major east flank of the Bruce Field. Also with BP, Bob’s prospect generation and mapping led to the discovery of the Gryphon Field.
He gained more success in the UK North Sea with Enterprise Oil as a senior consulting Geophysicist, where his fundamental idea and prospect generation led to the discoveries of the Hudson Field and Dumbarton Field. Through the years, Bob has provided his services to internationally renowned oil companies including Phillips Petroleum Company, Enterprise Oil, Sun Oil, Ranger Oil, Norsk Hydro, Amoco, Hardy Oil, Maersk Oil, Sipetrol and Petrobras. Aside from his extensive work in the UK North Sea, Bob has worked on projects in China, Brazil, the Netherlands, Morocco, Australia, Norway, India, East Africa, Denmark and Egypt.
Bob was also a co-founder of Wimbledon Oil with Mike Rose, which participated in 25 successful UK license applications, resulting in a high graded portfolio consisting of 10 UK licenses with net reserves of 174 million barrels. Their most significant discovery was the Athena field, which is due for production in 2010.
“Bob is in my opinion simply the best hydrocarbon-finding individual in the UK North Sea, with a record to support it,” said Fox CEO Richard Moore. “He is a specialist in prospect generation and production geophysics in many areas of the world in both clastic and carbonate provinces”.
Richard Moore – President & Chief Executive Officer – Chairman and Executive Director
Richard Moore is an oil and gas industry veteran with nearly 30 years experience across almost every aspect of the industry in both commercial and technical activities. His previous exposures to plays in Alaska and on Offshore UK blocks led to his career aspiration of developing these plays. This goal led to Fox’s current strategy, team make-up and land positions where he relishes these realized opportunities.
Working with Chaparral Resources Inc/KAZ Commertz Group from 1998 to 2004, Richard was an executive member of the main board responsible for Finance, Operations and strategic planning as well as new business development.
Under Richard’s control, Chaparral Resources (previously NASDAQ OTC BB: CHAR) increased production in Kazakhstan’s Karakuduk field from almost negligible amounts to over 15,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd), moving into positive cash flow and profitability. Chaparral Resources was eventually acquired by a wholly owned subsidiary of LUKOIL Oil Company for approximately $223 million USD. LUKOIL is one of the world’s largest Oil and Gas companies (London Stock Exchange:LKOD | Market Cap: $144.6 B).
Vice president, Finance, Alex Craven said, "Richard brings a very well rounded foundation to Fox Petroleum with substantial, relevant experience and a demonstrated ability in oil and gas activities. The team he has helped put together are simply world class, and will be instrumental in the future of Fox Petroleum.”
Alex Craven – Vice President, Finance, Compliance Officer – Executive Director
Alex Craven draws on his formal training and breadth of experience in the fields of European banking, finance, public companies and the oil and gas industry.
During his tenure at a registered accountants, Alex worked with numerous corporate clients while training in Management Accountancy. His activities included aspects of limited company formation, bookkeeping, financial reporting and production of business year-end accounts.
Alex received oil and gas industry education and training from the Petroleum Economist, London, whose faculty of seasoned industry experts represents senior management experience at Shell, BP, Esso, BG, Talisman, Enterprise and others. Beyond studying the fundamentals of the industry, Alex focused on quantifying exploration risk; reserves and costs; and the evaluation of investment opportunities.
Further training in London included studying Petroleum Economics through Fugro Robertson Limited, one of the world’s largest and most reputable oil and gas consultancies, where special emphasis was given to energy project assessment, economic modeling, and financial forecasting.
Alex’s key skills relate to his work in Geneva, Switzerland, where he was involved in the inception, formation, financing, administration and management of numerous junior resource companies which publicly listed in the US.
Alex studied Economics at the University of Sheffield, England, and is currently a candidate for the Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts (CFA).
Richard Moore, Fox CEO, said, “Alex is well versed in the ever-important financial side of the petroleum industry. His skill with leading companies through from the startup stage to production is incredibly valuable to this team and for Fox’s accomplishing of our set goals.”
William MacNee – Chief Operating Officer – Executive Director
William MacNee is a world-class engineer specializing in US Onshore and international facilities development, with a PHD in science with a major in Electrical Engineering from Concordia College and University. William has worked with a vast array of technical equipment in Canada and Russia, among other countries. He recently completed a term as Operations Manager for Petrofac in the UK and Russia on a regional gasification project which included major infrastructural gas an condensate pipelines in the massively oil and gas rich Irkutsk region.
Prior to his time with Petrofac, William was Project Manager for Arctic Construction on the facility construction in the Tengiz Oilfield—the largest in Kazakstan. William has also been contracted for his expertise to aid in the installation and maintenance of facilities for Unocal, Gulf Canada Pan Canadian and Dome Petroleum.
Fox CEO Richard Moore said, “William is a highly qualified and motivated Project Manager with over 30 years extensive experience in project, operational and field management within the oil, gas and petrochemical industry. I have known William and his work throughout his career, notably in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Canada, the USA and UK. He is a widely experienced individual and is naturally skilled in leading and motivating multi-disciplined workforces with diverse national, lingual and cultural backgrounds in all aspects oil field operations. He is a direct and skilled communicator, in both written and oral forms.”
Stepping down from his position on the Board will be Richard Bullock. A founding member of the Company, Richard is stepping aside to allow the new board to grow and prosper independently.
Upstream Who's Who
John Spence, Jonathan Wood, Michael Rose, Robert Frost, William MacNee and Richard Moore are featured in the OilVoice 'Who's Who' directory. In addition to biographies of directors, non-executives and senior management, Upstream Who's Who also includes company contact details - including subsidiary offices. The directory is available to OilVoice subscribers or can be purchased as an Excel file or hard copy version.