Candax's board of directors have a wealth of experience in operations, capital markets and corporate governance. The board of directors, of which four of its members are independent, is responsible for the stewardship of Candax and its progress towards creating shareholder value.
Benoit Debray
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Mr. Debray has close to 30 years experience in the international E&P and oilfield service industries. He has been Chief Operating Officer and board member of Geoservices from 1999 to 2007. Prior to this position, he was drilling and production deputy director for the French Institute of Petroleum. His initial position in the E&P industry was with Elf Aquitaine as a reservoir engineer and he has extensive service industry and operations experience in well testing and production logging, R&D, marketing and key account management. Benoit Debray graduated with a degree in petroleum engineering and mechanical engineering (Ecole Centrale de Nantes). He also holds an Executive MBA from HEC Paris.
M'hamed Ali Bouleymen
Director and Chairman, Ecumed Petroleum Limited
Mr. Bouleymen has had an impressive career in both the private and public sectors including two terms as Mayor of Tunis (1986 through 1988 and 1990 through 2000) during which time he was awarded the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) award for the best managed Arab city. During this period he also held the positions of Secretary General of the International Association of Francophone cities (an organization that was founded and chaired by former French President Jacques Chirac), Vice President of the Organization of Arab Cities and Vice President of the World Federation of United Cities. Most recently, Mr. Bouleymen was Advisor to the Secretary General of O.I.F. (Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie), an international organization which comprises 70 member states. Prior to joining O.I.F., he was the former Chairman and CEO of SITEP (Societe Italo-Tunisienne d'Exploitation Petroliere), a joint venture company between E.N.I. (Italian State Oil Company) and the Tunisian State. Other former positions include Chairman and CEO for National Fertilizers Company and CFO for Tunisian Chemical Group. Mr. Bouleymen is a graduate of Ecole des Hautes Etudes Commerciales in Paris and he is a Commandeur de l'Ordre de La Legion d'Honneur in France.
Stephen Drinkwater
Director
Mr. Drinkwater has in excess of 30 years experience in the E&P and oil service industries gained in Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and both North and South America. Prior positions include Base Managerwith Flopetrol-Schlumbeger, Global Service Line Manager and Business Development Manager for Well Intervention services with Geoservices, a subsidiary of Geofinance N.V., the Corporation’s major shareholder. Past technical positions have included Well Service Supervisor with BP Exploration Colombia in Colombia and Well Service Superintendent with Total Austral in Argentina. Mr. Drinkwater is a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers and the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering, and currently serves as a consultant to the international oil and gas industry, specializing in well interventions and HSEQ.
Chris Irwin
Director
Mr. Irwin practices securities and corporate/commercial law and has been the President of Irwin Lowy LLP since August 2006. Prior to forming Irwin Lowy LLP, Mr. Irwin was an associate of Wildeboer Dellelce LLP (January 2004 to August 2006), Power Budd LLP, Barristers and Solicitors (January 2001 to December 2004) and Boyle & Company, Barristers and Solicitors (December 1998 to December 2000). He received his Bachelor of Arts from Bishop’s University in Lennoxville, Quebec in 1990 and his Bachelor of Laws from the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton, New Brunswick in 1994. Chris has been a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada since 1996. Mr. Irwin is a director and/or officer of several public companies. His experience in corporate governance will be a great asset to Candax.
Thomas Rebilly
Director
Mr. Rebilly has 11 years industry experience gained in both the E&P and oil services industries. In 1997, he joined Geoservices, an oilfield service company that is a subsidiary of Geofinance N.V., the Corporation’s major shareholder. In 2006, Mr. Rebilly joined Geopetrol, also a subsidiary of Geofinance N.V., as Chairman. Mr. Rebilly is a professional Geologist and holds an engineering degree from Ecole Nationale Supérieure du Pétrole – Institut Francais du Pétrole and he also completed a business school program at La Sorbonne.
John Younger
Director and President
John Younger has a strong capital markets background having worked for RBC Capital Markets in New York and Toronto where he held a number of senior positions including Head of US Debt Capital Markets. Prior to joining Candax as President and Chief Executive Officer, John Younger taught economics and finance at Uruguayan American School in Montevideo and he provided consulting services in the areas of natural resources and agriculture. John Younger is a Chartered Financial Analyst and he holds a Finance and Accounting degree from the London School of Economics and a Bachelor of Arts from McGill University.