Cecilie Fredriksen

Director

Ms. Fredriksen is currently employed by Frontline Corporate Services in London and serves as a director on the board of several companies including Activ Kapital, Ship Finance International Limited and Golden Ocean Group Limited.  Ms. Fredriksen received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business and Spanish from the London Metropolitan University in 2006.

Harald Thorstein

Director

Mr. Thorstein is currently employed by Frontline Corporate Services in London. Mr. Thorstein's experience includes corporate finance advisory services with DnB NOR Markets, where he focused on the offshore and shipping sectors. Prior to that, Mr. Thorstein was partner in the strategic advisory firm Arkwright. Mr. Thorstein has a Master of Science degree in Industrial Economics and Technology Management from the Norwegian University of Technology and Science.

James LaChance
Director

Mr. LaChance has been a portfolio manager specializing in high-yield bonds and distressed investments for the past 11 years. Most recently Mr. LaChance was with Satellite Asset Management, L.P., a $7 billion investment management fund in New York City. Prior to that, he was a partner at Post Advisory Group, LLC, an $8 billion investment management firm in Los Angeles. Before that, he managed hedge funds for LibertyView Capital Management.

He began his professional career as an audit and management consultant for Arthur Andersen & Co. Subsequent to obtaining his MBA, Mr. LaChance worked as a restructuring and merchant banker with Chase Manhattan Bank. He holds a bachelors degree in business administration from Northeastern University ('88) and an MBA from the Stern School of Business at New York University ('93).

Mark H. Rosenberg

Director

Mr. Rosenberg has been a principal with MHR Fund Management LLC since 2002.  Previously, Mr. Rosenberg was vice president with CRT Capital Group LLC in Greenwich, CT.  From 1991 to 2000, Mr. Rosenberg was president of Rosemark Management, Inc.,  manager of a portfolio of investments and operating businesses that included significant distressed and restructuring situations.  Mr. Rosenberg serves on the board of Ben Arnold Beverage Company of South Carolina and previously served on the board of Medical Nutrition USA, Inc. until its sale in 2010.

Mr. Rosenberg graduated from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania and holds a Bachelors of Science in Economics. 

Gary W. Casswell

President and Chief Executive Officer

Mr. Casswell has more than 30 years industry experience, most recently serving as vice president, eastern hemisphere operations for Pride International, Inc.  In that position, Mr. Casswell was responsible for the re-organization of Forasol/Foramer into a division of Pride, including operations of a fleet of 39 drillships, semis, jackups, tenders, and land rigs operating in eighteen countries.  Prior to joining Pride, Mr. Casswell was with Santa Fe International and held a variety of increasingly responsible positions in operations, marketing, and business development, including responsibility for developing Santa Fe's deepwater rig strategy.

Mr. Casswell is a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, served as the Chairman of Drilling Contractor Publications for the International Association of Drilling Contractors ("IADC") and received the IADC's Exemplary Service award in 2007.  Mr. Casswell holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of California, Long Beach.

Paul Ravesies III

Senior Vice President of Marketing

and Business Development

Mr. Ravesies has over 30 years in the international oil and gas drilling contracting sector. Prior to joining Northern Offshore, Mr. Ravesies’s most recent position was regional vice president for Pride International with responsibility for business units in the Middle East, Mediterranean and Asia. He also has served more than 10 years in senior operational roles including vice president and general manager for Pride in Argentina, and general manager in Indonesia, South Africa and Egypt. In addition, Mr. Ravesies has over 18 years of experience in marketing and business development with Santa Fe International and Parker Drilling Company where he served as manager of Contracts and Business Development and manager of Global Business Development respectively.

Mr. Ravesies holds a BBA and MBA from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas and is a member and actively involved in the Society of Petroleum Engineers and the International Association of Drilling Contractors

Gary Bauer

Senior Vice President of Operations

Mr. Bauer has more than 35 years experience in the drilling industry, culminating with his most recent position as division manager, Egypt and Middle East for Transocean.  In that position, Mr. Bauer was responsible for operations, business development and the financial performance of 17 rigs in numerous regions.  Prior to his position with Transocean, Mr. Bauer served in various area manager capacities with GlobalSantaFe, and one of its predecessor companies Santa Fe International, with responsibility for overall financial performance, business development and operations management for the division. This experience included overseeing the management of both onshore and offshore rig fleets and operations.  Mr. Bauer's operational experience spans the management of drilling programs in many international jurisdictions, such as North Africa, Middle East, Asia and Asia Pacific regions, and included overseeing Sales/Marketing, QHSE, Human Resources, Finance and Accounting, Supply Chain and Logistics, Asset Management, Marine Operations, Information Technology and Legal functions in these regions.  

Mr. Bauer holds a Bachelor of Science degree in petroleum engineering from Colorado School of Mines and is a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers.

Bruce Kain

Regional Manager, Asia and the Pacific Rim

Mr. Kain has more than 35 years of experience in the drilling industry, and prior to him joining Northern Offshore, Bruce was vice president, QHSE for Pride International Inc. In that position, Mr. Kain was responsible for world-wide oversight of quality, health, safety, environmental, security and training programs and initiatives covering a fleet of various sizes/types of onshore rigs, deep-water drillships, semisubmersibles, tender rigs, platform rigs and jackups. Prior to his position with Pride International Inc., Mr. Kain served as vice president, Operations Support – Middle East and Asia Pacific for Pool International. During his tenure with Pool International, spanning more than 20 years, he also served as rig manager, operations manager and country manager in various locations world-wide.

Mr. Kain holds a B.A. in political science degree from Southwestern State University and is a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers and a Director of International Association of Drilling Contractors (Houston Chapter).