Cobalt people are the best at what they do. And are not satisfied until they do even better. This defines the people of Cobalt. We share a common mission. Our unique point of view. Converting data into advantage. Advantage into prospect. And prospect into production. People inspired and inspiring.
Smart. Experienced. Uncompromising. Visionary.
Smart. Experienced. Uncompromising. Visionary.
From left to right: Jim Farnsworth, Sam Gillespie, Rich Smith, Joe Bryant,
Van Whitfield, Jim Ivey, Lydia Junek, James Painter, John Wilkirson
Van Whitfield, Jim Ivey, Lydia Junek, James Painter, John Wilkirson
Joseph H. Bryant
Joseph is a veteran in the petroleum industry for over 30 years, formerly President and Chief Operating Officer of Unocal Corporation, formerly President of BP Angola, BP Canada and of an Amoco/CNOOC joint venture in China. Joseph also held executive leadership positions in Amoco business units in The Netherlands, and the Gulf of Mexico and numerous engineering, financial and operational assignments throughout the continental United States. He is also serving on the Board of Directors for Berry Petroleum Company.
Samuel H. Gillespie
Samuel is an executive with 26 years industry experience, formerly SVP and General Counsel of Mobil Corporation and formerly SVP and General Counsel of Unocal Corporation. While at those companies he led key negotiations, including Mobil's global merger with Exxon Corporation and Unocal's merger with Chevron Corporation. He was also instrumental in the expansion of Mobil's and Unocal's exploration and production opportunities in Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Qatar, Indonesia, Thailand, Bangladesh, Russia, Azerbaijan, Nigeria, Cameroon, Vietnam, Venezuela and Peru.
James W. Farnsworth
James is an industry veteran with more than 25 years of experience, formerly BP Vice President of World-Wide Exploration and Technology, with responsibility for BP global exploration strategy and execution. Prior positions at BP include: VP of North America Exploration; VP of Gulf of Mexico Exploration; and Deepwater Gulf of Mexico Production Manager.
James Ivey
Jim comes to Cobalt from MarkWest Hydrocarbon, Inc. where he was the Chief Financial Officer. Prior to MarkWest, he served at The Williams Company from 1995-2004 as Treasurer and later as Acting Chief Financial Officer. Prior to that, he was Treasurer of Tenneco Gas and Arkla, Inc. Jim began his career as an engineer, first with Fluor Corp and later with Conoco, Inc. He earned his undergraduate degree from Texas A&M University and his MBA from the University of Houston. Jim is also a graduate of the Army Command and General Staff College and the Duke University Advanced Management Program.
Lydia Junek
Lydia comes to Cobalt International Energy with 24 years of experience in banking and finance. Prior to joining Cobalt, she was president and founder of Piney Point Capital Advisors. Prior to starting Piney Point Capital, Lydia was managing director of Citigroup with responsibility for the firm's Energy Corporate Banking practice in Houston.
James H. Painter
James is an industry veteran with more than 25 years of experience, formerly Unocal Corporation Senior Vice President of Exploration and Technology. Formerly Senior Vice President of Gulf of Mexico and International Exploration at Ocean Energy, Inc., where he developed the successful strategy and execution of the Ocean Energy GOM Deepwater Program. Further prior industry experience includes positions at Forest Oil, Mobil Oil and Superior Oil.
Richard A. Smith
Rich is an oil and gas industry senior executive with a significant breadth of experience with over 25 years of experience in domestic and international markets. Former positions have included, Vice President Joint Venture Development BP Russia Offshore, Executive Director and Vice President BP Angola, and the leadership of teams/projects in Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey, UK, US, and Canada, as they pertain to new business strategy and development, commercial negotiation and asset disposition. Further experience includes proven delivery in working with government, state oil company, and regulatory institutions.
Van Whitfield
Van is a seasoned executive with over 32 years experience leading oil and gas production operations and marketing activities in North America, the UK and Europe, Middle East and Far East. Formerly Sr. Vice President, Western Operations, CDX Gas, LLC; Production Unit Leader, Angola LNG, BP Angola; Vice President Power and Water, ExxonMobil Saudi Arabia (Southern Ghawar) Ltd; Senior Vice President, BP Global Power and President and General Manager, Amoco Netherlands BV; Production Manager, Amoco UK Exploration. He has held numerous additional operational and technical leadership positions in various Amoco locations where his leadership and motivational capabilities resulted in strong teams with a track record for delivering results.
John Wilkirson
John has over 25 years experience in the energy industry. Prior to joining Cobalt, John was Vice President - Strategic Planning and Economics with Unocal. His primary responsibilities included identifying and addressing major strategic issues, managing the global asset and investment portfolio management, leading the economic analysis and evaluations function and overseeing performance management. He had a lead role in Unocal's corporate transaction and was Unocal's integration executive for the merger into Chevron. Prior to joining Unocal, John was an Engagement Manager in McKinsey's energy practice, serving clients on strategy and performance improvement engagements. His early career was with Exxon and Sohio/BP in petroleum engineering and commercial assignments. John earned a BS with Highest Honors in Petroleum Engineering and a MBA from the University of Texas at Austin.
Joseph is a veteran in the petroleum industry for over 30 years, formerly President and Chief Operating Officer of Unocal Corporation, formerly President of BP Angola, BP Canada and of an Amoco/CNOOC joint venture in China. Joseph also held executive leadership positions in Amoco business units in The Netherlands, and the Gulf of Mexico and numerous engineering, financial and operational assignments throughout the continental United States. He is also serving on the Board of Directors for Berry Petroleum Company.
Samuel H. Gillespie
Samuel is an executive with 26 years industry experience, formerly SVP and General Counsel of Mobil Corporation and formerly SVP and General Counsel of Unocal Corporation. While at those companies he led key negotiations, including Mobil's global merger with Exxon Corporation and Unocal's merger with Chevron Corporation. He was also instrumental in the expansion of Mobil's and Unocal's exploration and production opportunities in Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Qatar, Indonesia, Thailand, Bangladesh, Russia, Azerbaijan, Nigeria, Cameroon, Vietnam, Venezuela and Peru.
James W. Farnsworth
James is an industry veteran with more than 25 years of experience, formerly BP Vice President of World-Wide Exploration and Technology, with responsibility for BP global exploration strategy and execution. Prior positions at BP include: VP of North America Exploration; VP of Gulf of Mexico Exploration; and Deepwater Gulf of Mexico Production Manager.
James Ivey
Jim comes to Cobalt from MarkWest Hydrocarbon, Inc. where he was the Chief Financial Officer. Prior to MarkWest, he served at The Williams Company from 1995-2004 as Treasurer and later as Acting Chief Financial Officer. Prior to that, he was Treasurer of Tenneco Gas and Arkla, Inc. Jim began his career as an engineer, first with Fluor Corp and later with Conoco, Inc. He earned his undergraduate degree from Texas A&M University and his MBA from the University of Houston. Jim is also a graduate of the Army Command and General Staff College and the Duke University Advanced Management Program.
Lydia Junek
Lydia comes to Cobalt International Energy with 24 years of experience in banking and finance. Prior to joining Cobalt, she was president and founder of Piney Point Capital Advisors. Prior to starting Piney Point Capital, Lydia was managing director of Citigroup with responsibility for the firm's Energy Corporate Banking practice in Houston.
James H. Painter
James is an industry veteran with more than 25 years of experience, formerly Unocal Corporation Senior Vice President of Exploration and Technology. Formerly Senior Vice President of Gulf of Mexico and International Exploration at Ocean Energy, Inc., where he developed the successful strategy and execution of the Ocean Energy GOM Deepwater Program. Further prior industry experience includes positions at Forest Oil, Mobil Oil and Superior Oil.
Richard A. Smith
Rich is an oil and gas industry senior executive with a significant breadth of experience with over 25 years of experience in domestic and international markets. Former positions have included, Vice President Joint Venture Development BP Russia Offshore, Executive Director and Vice President BP Angola, and the leadership of teams/projects in Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey, UK, US, and Canada, as they pertain to new business strategy and development, commercial negotiation and asset disposition. Further experience includes proven delivery in working with government, state oil company, and regulatory institutions.
Van Whitfield
Van is a seasoned executive with over 32 years experience leading oil and gas production operations and marketing activities in North America, the UK and Europe, Middle East and Far East. Formerly Sr. Vice President, Western Operations, CDX Gas, LLC; Production Unit Leader, Angola LNG, BP Angola; Vice President Power and Water, ExxonMobil Saudi Arabia (Southern Ghawar) Ltd; Senior Vice President, BP Global Power and President and General Manager, Amoco Netherlands BV; Production Manager, Amoco UK Exploration. He has held numerous additional operational and technical leadership positions in various Amoco locations where his leadership and motivational capabilities resulted in strong teams with a track record for delivering results.
John Wilkirson
John has over 25 years experience in the energy industry. Prior to joining Cobalt, John was Vice President - Strategic Planning and Economics with Unocal. His primary responsibilities included identifying and addressing major strategic issues, managing the global asset and investment portfolio management, leading the economic analysis and evaluations function and overseeing performance management. He had a lead role in Unocal's corporate transaction and was Unocal's integration executive for the merger into Chevron. Prior to joining Unocal, John was an Engagement Manager in McKinsey's energy practice, serving clients on strategy and performance improvement engagements. His early career was with Exxon and Sohio/BP in petroleum engineering and commercial assignments. John earned a BS with Highest Honors in Petroleum Engineering and a MBA from the University of Texas at Austin.
