Mr. Hodgkinson has been a Director of Dejour since May 18, 2004 and the Chairman & CEO since July 14, 2004. He is the President of a private company called Hodgkinson Equities Corporation, which he established in 1988. His company provides consulting services to emerging businesses primarily in the petroleum resource industry. These consulting services consist of assistance in the areas of investment and capital formation. Mr. Hodgkinson was the founder and Chairman of Optima Petroleum, which drilled wells in Alberta and the Gulf of Mexico before merging to form Petroquest Energy, a NYSE listed company (PQ). Subsequently, he founded and was CEO of Australian Oil Fields, which would later merge to become Resolute Energy/Cardero Energy Inc. Early in his career, Mr. Hodgkinson was a Vice-President and partner of Canaccord Capital Corporation, and in 2001 an early stage investor and original lease financier in Synenco Energy's Northern Lights Project in the Alberta oil sands.
Mr. Mut most recently served as chief executive officer of a unit of Shell Exploration and Production Company. Prior to joining Shell in 2000, Mr. Mut dedicated much of his career to operational and new business venture activities in the oil and gas, refining and marketing, and chemical and mining sectors at ARCO (Atlantic Richfield Company), where he served in various internationally based executive roles in both upstream and downstream businesses. His global expertise has contributed to industry successes in Europe, South America, the Asia Pacific and the United States.
Mr. Blacker is an accomplished senior executive with over 30 years of expertise managing oil and gas operations with major corporations in the United States, South America, China and the Middle East. Prior to joining Dejour, Mr. Blacker was CEO of China Oman Energy Company, a joint venture between Oman Oil Company, IPIC and China Gas Holdings, importing and distributing LNG and LPG from the Middle East into China. Mr. Blacker held positions as VP of Business Development and Senior Investor Advisor with Oman Oil Company and Portfolio Manager, Latin American Business Unit and General Manager/ President of Venezuela Energy with Atlantic Richfield Corporation (ARCO). Mr. Blacker began his career with Amoco Production Company working in offshore construction and field operations in the Gulf of Mexico. To each of his roles, and to his work at Dejour, Mr. Blacker brings a dynamic background of operations experience, and an instinct for identifying and developing unique and challenging oil and natural gas assets.
Mathew Wong brings an extensive background in public and private practice to the company, including more than thirteen years with Ernst & Young, GLT Network Inc. and Mitsubishi Canada. Mr. Wong boasts a strong corporate finance background in financial reporting and investment structuring, and is experienced in international tax, US GAAP reporting and internal control policies.
Phil Bretzloff brings more than 30 years of experience to his role with Dejour. He has acted for oil, gas and energy companies, including extensive work for Canadian and offshore private and public corporations. Between 1980 and 1995, he was Senior Counsel for Petro-Canada. Subsequently, he was a Partner for 8 years with Cumming Blackett Bretzloff Todesco, Gowlings, and Baker & McKenzie, where his clients included PetroChina, Shell, Exxon Mobil, GazProm and Veba Oil and Gas. He formed his own practice in 2004.
Mrs. Mut brings to Dejour experience gained during a 30 year career in the energy industry in the US, Canada, Venezuela, Indonesia and the United Kingdom. Since 2000, she has been President of Nycon Energy Consulting working as an advisor to two major oil companies on the development of unconventional oil resources. Prior to forming Nycon Energy Consulting Mrs. Mut pursued international opportunities in both managerial and executive positions with Atlantic Richfield, ARCO.
Mr. Holmes began his career as an Investment Executive with Merrill, Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, and subsequently held various senior executive positions with the firm Blyth, Eastman, Dillon & Company (purchased by Paine Webber & Co.). In 1980, Mr. Holmes co-founded Gilford Securities, Inc., a member of the NYSE, and in 1992 founded a hedge fund, Gilford Partners. He has served on several boards including the North Central College Trustees in Naperville, IL; Board of Trustees Sacred Heart Schools Chicago; Crested Butte Academy in Crested Butte, CO; and Mary Wood Country Day School in Rancho Mirage, CA. He graduated with a BA from North Central College in 1965.
Craig Sturrock has served as a director and founding member of various public and private companies. Mr. Sturrock was called to the British Columbia Bar in 1969, and he joined the firm Thorsteinssons LLP, tax lawyers in 1971. He served for 15 years as a tax lawyer and partner at Birnie, Sturrock & Company returning to Thorsteinssons as a Partner in 1989. His practice focuses primarily on civil and criminal tax litigation. His litigation experience includes both federal and provincial taxation statutes, with particular reference to criminal litigation and the Charter of Rights. He is an author and speaker for the Canadian and British Columbia Bar Associations, the Continuing Legal Education Society of British Columbia and the Canadian Tax Foundation. He is also a former member of the Board of Governors of the Canadian Tax Foundation.
Mr. Patricio is Vice President Corporate & Legal Affairs and Secretary of Brownstone Ventures Inc. one of Dejour's major shareholders. Mr. Patricio previously practiced law at a top tier law firm in Toronto and worked as in-house General Counsel for a senior TSX listed company. Mr. Patricio is a lawyer qualified to practice in the Province of Ontario. He will also join Dejour's audit committee.
Since 2003, Mr. Devine has been the principal of Chelmer Consulting Corp. that provides corporate finance advisory services to private and public companies. Mr. Devine is qualified as a Barrister and Solicitor in British Columbia and in England and Wales and practiced exclusively in the areas of Corporate Finance and Securities Law with a focus on cross-border listings. Prior to founding Chelmer Consulting Corp. and since 2005, Mr. Devine practiced at the law firm DuMoulin Black LLP.
