Board of Directors

Ahmad Al-Hashimi - Vice-Chairman and Non-Executive Director

Mr. Ahmad Al-Hashimi is a GCC national with 35 years experience in the management and operation of diverse businesses in the Middle East. He brings to Sphere a wealth of knowledge and insight on the GCC and the region. Mr. Al-Hashimi was educated in the United States and holds a Master of Science degree.

Regragui Benza - Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer

Mr Benza is a Mauritanian citizen, educated in Mauritania and the United States, where he obtained an MBA in International Finance. Mr Benza held a senior management position with Cohen and Woods International (CWI), a US firm specializing in African affaires, where he was responsible for a portfolio of West African and major US oil and gas clients.Following this, he held the position of Chief Executive Officer with both PACT- Industrie and Societe Mauritanienne D’investissement (SMI), members of a Mauritanian group of companies with activities in fishing, construction, information technology, banking, insurance and trading. Mr. Benza is also the President of the Mauritanian - US Business Council.

Patrick Danielou – Director and Chief Finance and Administrative Officer

Mr. Danielou has extensive financial and managerial experience, especially in the resources sector, and a significant wealth of knowledge of the African business environment. He is a French national, trained as Chartered Accountant with KPMG France. He went on to hold various positions in Accounting, Administration and Finance with International Companies until he created his own Advising and Consulting Company, in May 2001 in Mauritania. As a consultant he has been instrumental in the success of many international companies’ developments in Mauritania and West Africa. Mr. Danielou has been the Chief Finance & Administrative Officer of Sphere Petroleum QSC since its registration in January 2007.

Leigh Hall - Non-Executive Director

Leigh Hall is a partner in a major international law firm, specializing in energy and project finance. He has been based in Doha, Qatar for over five years. Leigh brings twenty years experience to the board, especially in structuring, negotiating and documenting the development and financing of oil, gas, petrochemical and power projects in the Middle East, North Africa, West Africa, the former Soviet Union and North and South America.

Hiroshi Tanaka - Non-Executive Director