John Bentley

Mr Bentley has more than 40 years of experience in international natural resource development, with a focus on Africa's upstream oil and gas industry since 1993, when he was appointed CEO exploration and production at South African oil company Engen Ltd. In 1996 he was in the formation of Energy Africa Ltd. and its listing on the Johannesburg and Luxembourg stock exchanges. Over the next five years as CEO, Mr Bentley led Energy Africa's growth, with a fourfold increase in production, operations in 12 African countries, and several hydrocarbon resource discoveries. This laid the foundation for Tullow Oil to launch a US$500 million takeover of the Company in 2004. Mr Bentley has held executive and board roles in E&P companies with the majority Africa focused including Vanco Energy Company, FirstAfrica Oil plc, Rift Oil plc, Caracal Energy Inc, Faroe Petroleum plc, Wentworth Resources Ltd and recently Africa Energy Corp, which made the Brulpadda and Luiperd play opening discoveries offshore South Africa. Former directorships held in the last 3 years: Phoenix Global Resources PLC, Wentworth Resources PLC and Africa Energy Ltd.