Board of Directors

Gary W. Casswell has more than 45 years industry experience and currently serves as a Director and Chairman of Northern Ocean, LTD. Mr. Casswell also serves as a Director of Ensign Energy Services, Inc. Most recently Mr. Casswell served as President and CEO of Northern Offshore LTD from 2010 until mid-2017. Prior to this he served as Vice President, Eastern Hemisphere Operations for Pride International responsible for the deep water, shallow water, and land operations in more than 18 countries. Prior to joining Pride, Mr. Casswell worked for Santa Fe International for more than 20 years and held a variety of increasingly responsible positions including development of Santa Fe’s deep-water strategy.

Mr. Casswell has served with the IADC and received the IADC Exemplary Service award in 2007 and is a member of The Society of Petroleum Engineers. Mr. Casswell holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of California, Long Beach. He is a US citizen and resides in Houston, Texas.

Sven Børre Larsen has served as CFO of TGS from 2015 until 2019, when he assumed the position of Head of Strategy and M&A. Mr. Larsen re-assumed the role as CFO in August 2021. Before joining TGS in 2015, Mr. Larsen was CFO of Prosafe, the world’s leading owner and operator of semisubmersible accommodation vessels for the offshore oil and gas industry. Mr. Larsen was also CFO of Prosafe Production, one of the world’s leading FPSO contractors.

Mr. Larsen holds an M.S. degree in business specializing in finance from Bodo Graduate School of Business in Norway. He is a Norwegian citizen and resides in Oslo, Norway.

Mikhael Botbol is a senior advisor to Hayfin Capital, prior to this he was a senior partner and Portfolio Manager for Private Credit, responsible for the firm’s special opportunities investment activities for Hayfin.

Before joining Hayfin, Mr. Botbol spent five years as Portfolio Manager at MB Asset Management, a European credit fund he founded. Prior to this, he spent four years at Brevan Horward Asset Management as Portfolio Manager for high-yield and distressed assets in Europe and emerging markets. From 2003 to 2006, Mr. Botbol was Head of European Credit at HBK Capital Management with a focus on high-yield and distressed debt, and previously worked for both Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley.

Mr. Botbol holds a BA in Mathematics from University of Paris VI, an MSc from UCLA, and an MBA from INSEAD. He is an Israeli citizen and resides in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Jan Erik Klepsland is an Investment Director in Seatankers Management Norway AS. Prior to joining Seatankers, he held the position as Partner at ABG Sundal Collier and prior to that Director at Nordea. He has experience within equity/debt financing, M&A and restructuring.

Mr. Klepsland holds a MSc in Finance from Norwegian School of Economics (NHH).  He is a Norwegian citizen and resides in Oslo, Norway.

Mr. Klepsland is also a Director in Archer Limited and Noram Drilling AS.

James Ayers has served as Director and Secretary of the Company since February 2019.  Mr. Ayers has more than ten years of industry experience with a range of director and management positions across the sector. Mr. Ayers is the CEO of Front Ocean Management and Company Secretary for the Fredriksen Group companies based in Bermuda, including publicly listed and SEC-regulated companies. Mr. Ayers has previously occupied company secretary positions within UK based firms, Karm Research Group and Co-operative Banking Group Ltd.

Mr. Ayers holds a Masters in International Business and Commercial Law (LLM), a Bachelors in Law (LLB) and a professional qualification in Legal Practice (LPC).  He is a British citizen and resides in Hamilton, Bermuda.