James LaChance
Chairman of the Board

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 at Satellite Asset Management, L.P., a $7 billion AUM (Assets Under Management) investment management fund in New York City. Prior to that, he was a Partner at Post Advisory Group, LLC, an $8 billion AUM 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).

Mr Knudtzon is a partner in the Oslo office of the law firm, Thommessen Krefting Greve Lund AS Advokatfirma. Mr Knudtzon was admitted to the Norwegian bar in 1979 and before the Supreme Court in 1991. He became a partner in Lund & Co ANS in 1986 which merged with Thommessen in 1993. He is a Board Member of the Norwegian Maritime Law Association and a member of the legal committee of the Norwegian Shipowners Association.Mr Knudtzon is also a non-executive board member on various shipping companies. He is a Norwegian citizen and resides in Oslo, Norway.

Hal Goldstein

Director

Mr. Goldstein is a co-founder and Managing Principal of MHR Fund Management LLC (“MHR”), an investment manager of various private investment funds that invest in inefficient market sectors, including special situation equities and distressed investments. He currently serves on the board of directors of Loral Space & Communications Inc., a leading Satellite Communications Company that is listed on Nasdaq. Mr. Goldstein holds a J.D., magna cum laude, from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law and a B.A. from Yeshiva University.

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.

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).