A Proven Asset with Multi-Decade Drilling Inventory

Our Origins

Vesta originated in 2011 as a startup with private equity backing. Our primary focus was exploring for and testing oil resource play concepts with the intention of growing 100 percent organically. Between 2012 and 2017, in parallel with several successive financings, we discovered and strategically delineated Alberta’s first commercial shale oil play. Over this time period, we assembled and currently maintain a wholly working interest land position of 242,000 net acres concentrated in an area with the best rock properties and optimal oil maturity window. We currently own and operate two gas plants and three central oil processing facilities. Our wholly owned and operated infrastructure, together with strong market access, results in industry leading netbacks and compelling corporate returns. Since inception, we have grown production from zero to our 2023 rate of 12,800 boe/day.

Our Origins

Vesta originated in 2011 as a startup with private equity backing. Our primary focus was exploring for and testing oil resource play concepts with the intention of growing 100 percent organically. Between 2012 and 2017, in parallel with several successive financings, we discovered and strategically delineated Alberta’s first commercial shale oil play. Over this time period, we assembled and currently maintain a wholly working interest land position of over 262,000 net acres concentrated in an area with the best rock properties and optimal oil maturity window. We currently own and operate two gas plants and three central oil processing facilities. Our wholly owned and operated infrastructure, together with strong market access, results in industry leading netbacks and compelling corporate returns. Since inception, we have grown production from zero to our 2021 rate of 12,200 boe/day.

Senior Leadership Team

President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

Matt joined Vesta in 2021 and has oil and gas industry experience in senior leadership positions in public and private companies with roles spanning engineering, commercial, planning, operations, and business development. Matt is a Professional Engineer and holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Mechanical and a Masters in Business Administration in Finance. Matt was most recently President and CEO at Orlen Upstream Canada and has held previous leadership roles at Talisman Energy and Petro-Canada Oil & Gas.

Chief Financial Officer

Mark joined Vesta in 2022 and has gained experience in the areas of financial leadership, capital markets, debt restructuring, investor relations and financial accounting across private and public companies. Mark is a Chartered Professional Accountant and holds a Masters of Professional Accounting and Bachelor of Business Administration. Mark was previously CFO at Sio Silica Corporation, Reserve Royalty Income Trust and Steppe Resources Inc. and held progressively senior financial positions at Open Range Energy Corp. and KPMG LLP.

Vice President, Exploration

Dermot is one of the founding members of Vesta and has been with the company since 2011. Dermot has oil and gas industry experience in geology, focusing on exploration and development throughout the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin. Dermot has a Bachelor of Science in Geology, and previously held roles with Equal Energy, Argent Energy, EOG Resources, Renaissance Energy, and Crestar Energy.

Vice President, Engineering and Operations

Chris joined Vesta in 2018 and has oil and gas industry experience in development, drilling and completions, production, exploitation and facilities engineering. Chris is a Professional Engineer, holding a Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering. Chris previously held senior leadership and technical roles at NuVista Energy, Bonavista Energy and Renaissance Energy.

President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

Matt joined Vesta in 2021 and has oil and gas industry experience in senior leadership positions in public and private companies with roles spanning engineering, commercial, planning, operations, and business development. Matt is a Professional Engineer and holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Mechanical and a Masters in Business Administration in Finance. Matt was most recently President and CEO at Orlen Upstream Canada and has held previous leadership roles at Talisman Energy and Petro-Canada Oil & Gas.

Chief Financial Officer

Mark joined Vesta in 2022 and has gained experience in the areas of financial leadership, capital markets, debt restructuring, investor relations and financial accounting across private and public companies. Mark is a Chartered Professional Accountant and holds a Masters of Professional Accounting and Bachelor of Business Administration. Mark was previously CFO at Sio Silica Corporation, Reserve Royalty Income Trust and Steppe Resources Inc. and held progressively senior financial positions at Open Range Energy Corp. and KPMG LLP.

Vice President, Exploration

Dermot is one of the founding members of Vesta and has been with the company since 2011. Dermot has oil and gas industry experience in geology, focusing on exploration and development throughout the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin. Dermot has a Bachelor of Science in Geology, and previously held roles with Equal Energy, Argent Energy, EOG Resources, Renaissance Energy, and Crestar Energy.

Vice President, Engineering and Operations

Chris joined Vesta in 2018 and has oil and gas industry experience in development, drilling and completions, production, exploitation and facilities engineering. Chris is a Professional Engineer, holding a Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering. Chris previously held senior leadership and technical roles at NuVista Energy, Bonavista Energy and Renaissance Energy.

Vice President, HSE and Sustainability

Mark joined Vesta in 2018 and has oil and gas industry experience managing compliance and health, safety and environmental programs. Mark is a Professional Agrologist and has a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Sciences. Mark was previously with NuVista Energy and Terralogix Solutions.

Director, HR & Office Services

Celsa joined Vesta in 2019 and has oil and gas industry experience with a background in HR business partnering, total rewards, talent management and communications. Celsa is a Chartered Professional in Human Resources and has a Bachelor of Commerce specializing in Human Resources & Organizational Dynamics. Celsa was previously with Repsol Oil & Gas Canada, Talisman Energy, and Vermilion Energy.

Director, Land and Business Development

Brock joined Vesta in 2022 and has mineral land and acquisition and divestiture experience in the oil and gas industry. Brock has a Bachelor of Commerce specializing in Petroleum Land Management. Brock was previously with Sinopec Canada, Daylight Energy, Sequoia Oil & Gas Trust, Hawker Resources and Devon Canada. 

Director, Planning & Corporate Development

Mark joined Vesta in 2017 and has oil and gas industry experience with a background in strategic planning, performance management, corporate development, and investor relations. Mark is a CFA charterholder and has a Bachelor of Commerce specializing in Finance. Mark was previously with Repsol Oil & Gas Canada, Talisman Energy, and Peters & Co.. 

Vice President, HSE and Sustainability

Mark joined Vesta in 2018 and has oil and gas industry experience managing compliance and health, safety and environmental programs. Mark is a Professional Agrologist and has a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Sciences. Mark was previously with NuVista Energy and Terralogix Solutions.

Director, HR & Communications

Celsa joined Vesta in 2019 and has oil and gas industry experience with a background in HR business partnering, total rewards, talent management and communications. Celsa is a Chartered Professional in Human Resources and has a Bachelor of Commerce specializing in Human Resources & Organizational Dynamics. Celsa was previously with Repsol Oil & Gas Canada, Talisman Energy, and Vermilion Energy.

Director, Land and Business Development

Brock joined Vesta in 2022 and has mineral land and acquisition and divestiture experience in the oil and gas industry. Brock has a Bachelor of Commerce specializing in Petroleum Land Management. Brock was previously with Sinopec Canada, Daylight Energy, Sequoia Oil & Gas Trust, Hawker Resources and Devon Canada. 

Director, Planning and Corporate Development

Mark joined Vesta in 2017 and has oil and gas industry experience with a background in strategic planning, performance management, corporate development, and investor relations. Mark is a CFA charterholder and has a Bachelor of Commerce specializing in Finance. Mark was previously with Repsol Oil & Gas Canada, Talisman Energy, and Peters & Co..

Board of Directors

Craig has been a Founding Director since 2011, is Chair of the board, and serves as a member of the HSE, Reserves & Sustainability Committee. Craig is President and Managing Partner of Carbon Infrastructure Partners Corp. (formerly JOG Capital Corp.) and has over 20 years of experience in private equity and energy banking. He has been in private equity fund management since 2007 and has served as a Board member for several portfolio companies. Craig’s experience covers structuring complex financial and legal transactions, and knowledge of ESG planning, execution, and monitoring. Craig previously held roles with RBC Capital Markets.

Matt joined Vesta in 2021 and has over 23 years of oil and gas industry experience in senior leadership positions in public and private companies with roles spanning engineering, commercial, planning, operations, and business development. Matt is a Professional Engineer and holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Mechanical and a Masters in Business Administration in Finance. Matt was most recently President and CEO at Orlen Upstream Canada and has held previous leadership roles at Talisman Energy and Petro-Canada Oil & Gas.

Ryan has been a Founding Director since 2011 and serves on the Audit Committee and Compensation & Corporate Governance Committee. Ryan is Managing Partner of Carbon Infrastructure Partners Corp. (formerly JOG Capital Corp.). Ryan stepped in as President and CEO of Vesta from 2019 until 2021. Ryan has over 24 years of experience in private equity and energy banking, has served on the board of several portfolio companies, and has broad exposure to deal sourcing, structuring, and financing. Ryan previously held roles with ATB Financial, Bank of America, and Credit Lyonnais S.A.

Jesal joined Vesta’s board in 2018 and serves on the Audit Committee and HSE, Reserves & Sustainability Committee. Jesal has over 14 years of experience in private equity and energy investment banking. Jesal is a Vice President at Riverstone Holdings LLC and serves on the board of several Riverstone portfolio companies. Jesal previously held roles with Credit Suisse.

Paul joined Vesta’s board in 2018 and serves on the Audit Committee. Paul is currently Chief Financial Officer at Wintershall DEA and was previously Chief Financial Officer at Vesta. Paul has over 25 years of oil and gas industry experience in commercial and technical leadership roles and has worked internationally with Talisman Energy, TNK-BP, and BP.

Denzil joined Vesta’s Board in 2017 and serves on the HSE, Reserves & Sustainability Committee. Denzil has over 35 years of oil and gas industry experience with the majority of it focused in the Permian Basin. Denzil is currently Chief Executive Officer of Admiral Permian Resources LLC and previously held roles with Reliance Energy.

Heather joined Vesta’s Board in 2023 and serves as Chair of the HSE, Reserves & Sustainability Committee and is a member of the Compensation & Corporate Governance Committee. Heather has over 20 years of oil and gas experience in technical, engineering, operational, and commercial roles and is a Professional Engineer holding a Bachelor of Science, with a major in Mechanical Engineering and minor in Petroleum Engineering. Heather is currently President, US Gulf of Mexico at CNOOC International and previously held a variety of roles with increasing levels of senior leadership responsibility at CNOOC’s predecessor company, Nexen Inc. Heather serves as Chair for the CNOOC Holdings USA board, as well as five subsidiary boards. 

Open and Transparent

We aim to be clear and direct in our communications. If you have any questions regarding Vesta’s history, current operations, or future ambitions, please reach out.