Our senior team

Appointed 31 March 2021

Skills and experience: Blair was appointed as Non-Executive Chairman of the company pursuant to the relationship agreement with EIG (described on page 105 of our Annual Report and Accounts for 2023). Blair has more than 30 years’ experience in the investment management business, with a focus on energy and energy-related infrastructure, and was previously a member of the Board of Directors of Chrysaor Holdings Ltd. The Board believes that Blair’s industry experience and knowledge of Harbour warrants his position as Chairman and his leadership is of significant benefit to the company and shareholders as a whole.

External appointments with public companies: None

Committee membership: Nomination (Chair)

Appointed 31 March 2021

Skills and experience: Linda has significant experience in building and managing large-scale, global energy businesses at both Royal Dutch Shell where she worked for almost 30 years and subsequently in private equity at EIG. She has a track record of successful strategic execution and growth, including through M&A, major project delivery and raising capital. Linda’s experience in international oil and gas and in disciplined capital allocation within the sector is of great value to Harbour as the company works to implement its strategy.

External appointments with public companies:

• BNY Mellon, Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Audit Committee

Committee membership: n/a

Appointed 15 April 2021

Skills and experience: Having spent a large portion of his career as CFO of Aker BP, including during the merger of Det Norske Oljeselskap and BP Norge, Alexander has experience leading a large finance function through an integration process. His listed company experience and understanding of debt and equity capital markets are invaluable in ensuring that the company has the balance sheet strength to be able to deliver its growth and investment plans through the commodity price cycle.

External appointments with public companies: None

Committee membership: n/a

Appointed 31 March 2021

Skills and experience: Simon’s position as Senior Independent Director ensures that the highest standards of corporate governance are maintained. He plays a pivotal role in managing the relationship with the company’s major shareholder, EIG, and ensuring the company is able to operate independently and in accordance with its obligations as a listed company. In addition, Simon brings significant experience in both the oil and gas sector, including a focus on health, safety and sustainability, and public markets having spent his entire career working with large-scale companies, including as CFO for Royal Dutch Shell plc.

External appointments with public companies:

• Rio Tinto plc, Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee

Committee membership: Audit and Risk; HSES

Appointed 1 April 2021

Skills and experience: Margareth has extensive experience of international oil and gas operations, having worked for almost 40 years at Equinor and its predecessor companies. At Equinor, Margareth spent almost 17 years on the executive committee with global responsibility for HSES, project development, drilling, procurement, technology and new energy. Margareth’s extensive leadership experience of major projects, health and safety, sustainability and the role of digital technology in engineering are valuable to the Board. As Chair of the HSES Committee, Margareth has a passion for safety and the environment which is essential to her role.

External appointments with public companies:

• FMC Corporation, Non-Executive Director
• Technip FMC plc, Non-Executive Director
• Transocean Ltd, Non-Executive Director

Committee membership: HSES (Chair); Audit and Risk

Appointed 31 March 2021

Skills and experience: Alan is a chartered accountant and brings current and relevant financial experience to the Board and Audit and Risk Committee following his executive career in finance roles including being CFO of three FTSE 100/250 companies. Alan has over a decade of experience leading audit committees of listed companies including the Weir Group, Croda International and Johnson Matthey plc. The Audit and Risk Committee also benefits from Alan’s insight from his position as a Board member of the Audit Committee Chairs’ Independent Forum, and his expertise in corporate governance, audit and accounting is of great value to the Board and the company.

External appointments with public companies:

• AngloGold Ashanti plc, Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee

Committee membership: Audit and Risk (Chair); Remuneration

Appointed 31 March 2021

Skills and experience: Andy has over 40 years’ experience in the global oil and gas industry gained during his long career with bp. He brings a strong understanding of the technical, operational and commercial issues associated with developing and managing large-scale, complex energy assets around the world, from exploration through to decommissioning, including in the areas of safety and the environment. Andy’s technical, operational and leadership expertise in the oil and gas sector are invaluable to the Board and its committees in overseeing the existing portfolio and assessing opportunities for investment.

External appointments with public companies: None

Committee membership: Nomination; Remuneration

Board representative to the group staff forum.

Appointed 31 March 2021

Skills and experience: Anne brings a wealth of experience built up over a long career in engineering and executive roles in large global companies. In recent years, she has served on remuneration committees, including as Chair, in a number of large organisations, including Anglo American plc, expertise that she brings to her role as Remuneration Committee Chair. Anne also has significant experience engaging with investors to deliver remuneration outcomes that are of benefit to all stakeholders.

External appointments with public companies:

• Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings plc, Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Remuneration Committee and the Sustainability Committee

Committee membership: Remuneration (Chair); Nomination

Appointment 1 May 2023

Skills and experience: Belgacem has extensive experience in the energy, materials and chemicals industries, having held a variety of leadership positions within oil field services companies, including Baker Hughes and Schlumberger. Most recently Belgacem was Chairman and CEO of Ecovyst Inc, a leading global provider of speciality catalysts, materials, chemicals and services. Belgacem brings extensive global industry expertise to Harbour, including in the area of health and safety, which enhances the Board’s ability to support and oversee the delivery of the strategy.

External appointments with public companies:

• Helmerich & Payne Inc, Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Remuneration Committee

Committee membership: HSES; Nomination

Appointment 1 May 2023

Skills and experience: Louise has a wealth of experience and deep understanding of both financial and energy markets. Following 25 years at UBS, Louise played a lead role in preparing Saudi Aramco for its first public bond issuance and IPO as Head of International Investor Relations. At Saudi Aramco Louise was also a member of the Sustainability Steering Committee, working extensively on all aspects of ESG reporting. Louise’s experience advising investors, boards and executive management teams on capital markets-related activity, sustainability and governance issues is of great value to the Board and its committees.

External appointments with public companies: None

Committee membership: Audit and Risk; Remuneration

Board representative to the group staff forum.

Rachel is a Fellow of the Chartered Governance Institute with more than 20 years’ experience gained across a variety of industries and sectors in FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 listed companies, including three years within the financial services sector.

As Company Secretary, Rachel is responsible for advising the Board, through the Chairman, on all governance matters.

Appointed 3 September 2024

Skills & Experience: Hans has decades of experience in the chemical industry. The former CFO and Vice Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF SE, he also gained extensive experience in the energy sector when he was responsible for BASF's oil and gas business (Wintershall). During his career, he successfully led BASF's activities in North America, oversaw significant multi-billion dollar acquisitions and investments, and managed major restructuring projects. He brings to Harbour his broad international experience, financial expertise, and strategic business development skills. Hans was appointed as a Non-Executive Director of the company on 3 September 2024 pursuant to the relationship agreement with BASF.

External appointments with public companies:

• Deutsche Post AG (Supervisory board, member and chair of audit committee)
• Wintershall Dea AG (Supervisory board, chairman)
• Heinz Hermann Thiele Familienstiftung (Board of trustees, chairman)

Committee membership: Health, Safety, Environment & Security Committee

Appointed 3 September 2024

Skills and experience: Dirk, who holds a doctorate in law, has held several different positions and gained a broad international business expertise since joining BASF in 2003. Among other things, he was Managing Director of BASF Polska and responsible for corporate mergers. Today, as a member of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF SE, he holds the positions of CFO and CDO, leveraging his deep understanding of finance and digitalization that will now also benefit Harbour. Dirk was appointed as a Non-Executive Director of the company on 3 September 2024 pursuant to the relationship agreement with BASF.

External appointments with public companies:

• Wintershall Dea AG, Kassel (Member of the Supervisory Board)

Committee membership: Nomination Committee

Linda has extensive experience in the global oil and gas industry gained over a more than 40-year career in which she has held senior roles in management, exploration, production, operations and engineering.

Before becoming CEO of Harbour Energy in 2021, Linda was Chairman of the Board of Chrysaor Holdings Ltd, one of Harbour's heritage companies, and a member of the Investment and Executive Committees of EIG, positions she held since 2014.

Prior to that Linda had a 29-year career at Royal Dutch Shell, where she was a member of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee. During her career with Shell, she held positions including CEO of Shell Gas and Power (London); CEO of Shell Canada Limited (Calgary); and Executive Vice President Strategy and Finance for Global Exploration and Production (The Hague).

Linda also has extensive corporate governance experience having served on the boards of Royal Dutch Shell, Boeing, Cargill, Marathon Oil and KBR Inc. Today, she serves as a non-executive director on the board of Bank of New York Mellon.

Alexander has over 20 years of experience in senior accounting, controlling and executive roles in the energy industry.

Prior to joining Harbour in 2021, Alexander was Investment Director at Aker ASA where he was responsible for all oil and gas investments.

Before that, Alexander was CFO of Aker BP/Det Norske Oljeselskap, where he was responsible for all financial functions, strategy and M&A.

Alexander started his career with KPMG, and he is a State Authorised Public Accountant in Norway.

As COO of Harbour Energy, Nigel is accountable for safe and responsible business delivery across Harbour’s seven Business Units in Norway, Germany, UK, MENA, South East Asia, Argentina and Mexico.

Nigel is a highly experienced oil and gas executive, with over three decades of experience, working on three continents, in upstream and downstream operations.

Immediately prior to joining Harbour Energy, Nigel was executive vice president, Oil, Products and Gas at Chevron responsible for Chevron's international upstream, downstream and midstream operations and investment program. During his 35-year career at Chevron, he led several businesses including Chevron's Australia LNG Assets, it's EurAsia E&P business, and refineries in California. He has experience in a wide range of operational, strategic, capital project and management roles in both the upstream and downstream sectors. Nigel began his career at Texaco as a facilities engineer at a refinery in Pembroke, Wales.

An engineer by training, Nigel has a BSc in mechanical engineering from the University of Sussex and an MSc in engineering management from the University of Glamorgan.

Andrea has over 20 years of experience in the energy sector in both industry and advisory roles.

Prior to joining Harbour Energy, Andrea was Head of M&A at Wintershall Dea and its predecessor company DEA Deutsche Erdoel.

His previous experience includes investment banking roles at Bank of America Merrill Lynch and UBS.

Andrea started his career at Eni and holds an MBA from INSEAD.

Philip has 30 years of experience in exploration and production in both industry and advisory roles.

Prior to joining Harbour, Philip was a partner and director at Boston Consulting Group, where he co-led the firm's upstream oil and gas activity globally. At BCG he gained extensive experience in strategy, performance improvement and transaction-related activity with leading majors, independents and oilfield service companies. Philip began his career as a drilling engineer at Shell, where he managed front-line operations in the Netherlands, Peru and Oman.

Prior to joining Harbour, Howard was General Counsel at Chrysaor, one of Harbour's heritage companies.

His previous experience includes more than 10 years at BG Group where he led a team of lawyers responsible for the group’s corporate and M&A matters globally.

Howard trained and qualified at the international law firm, Clifford Chance.

Gill has extensive experience of managing human resources in the energy industry, including many international postings.

Prior to joining Harbour, Gill was the Vice President Human Resources, for Chevron's global upstream business in the US. During her 20-year career with Chevron, Gill took on increasing responsibility in human resources including Regional HR Manager, Middle East, and East Africa (UAE), Regional HR Manager, Africa and Middle East (South Africa), General Manager HR, gas and midstream (US), and General Manager HR, upstream Asia Pacific (Singapore).

Alan is an energy professional with over 20 years of experience in Subsurface, Operations, Asset Management and Business Planning roles.

Prior to joining Harbour, Alan was CEO of Ithaca Energy where he led the transformation into one of UK’s largest independent E&P companies and listing on the London Stock Exchange.

Earlier in his career Alan held various asset and corporate leadership positions in the UK, Canada and USA with ConocoPhillips. He holds a degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Edinburgh and a Masters in Petroleum Engineering from Imperial College, London and is a Chartered Petroleum Engineer.

Graeme has significant experience in the oil and gas industry including leading Harbour’s Viking CCS project. 

Graeme is a Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, and has previously held leadership roles in Operations, Asset Management and Development delivery in Harbour’s legacy companies ConocoPhilips and Chrysaor. 

Graeme holds a Master of Science degree from NTNU, Trondheim, Norway, and an Honours degree in Mechanical and Offshore Engineering from Heriot Watt University.