Derek Nixon is the current CEO and President of Varel Energy Solutions. He is a dedicated, decisive leader and outstanding team builder with extensive experience both domestically and internationally, Derek has a proven track record of growing top and bottom lines in drilling and completions tools around the world.

Derek started working in the oilfield 14 years ago with Varel Oil Gas Drill Bits in the Barnett Shale as a field sales professional. Derek worked through various levels of responsibility towards becoming a US Regional Manager where he was responsible for the majority of US markets. Following his management role, he took a position in Houston as the Director of Western Hemisphere for Downhole Products, a legacy subsidiary of Varel. In doing so, Derek gained valuable international experience. He was instrumental in setting up the structure of distributers in Latin America along with the sales team and offices in North America. In his most previous position as Vice President for Downhole Products, he was responsible for every facet of the global operating business, including sales, operations, engineering, manufacturing and finance.

Derek went to school at Robert Gordons and Gordonstoun in Scotland, during his time there he was the House Captain and Captain of the Rugby, Skiing and Tennis teams. This experience is where leadership was ingrained in his DNA. After school he played rugby for Aberdeen Grammar before moving to Dallas TX to play for the Dallas Harlequins in the US Super League.

Edward (Eddie) Croy joins the VES Executive Team in early 2023 as the company’s Chief Operating Officer, responsible for the leadership and execution of global supply chain, manufacturing, engineering, IT and QHSE initiatives.

Eddie is a highly experienced business leader having spent most of his 30-year career with Baker Hughes, serving in various leadership roles within manufacturing and engineering management across multiple product lines within the drilling products sector. Eddies’ most recent responsibilities included the Executive Director of Global Drill Bit Manufacturing. Prior to his tenure in Baker Hughes, Eddie spent 10 years in Reed Hycalog in project management and manufacturing engineering.

Eddie holds a BS degree from Sam Houston University and numerous accolades within the industry’s manufacturing, sustainable health and HSE communities. Eddie is active in family activities residing in Conroe, Texas.

Jordan Stringer is the Eastern Hemisphere, Executive Vice President for Varel Energy Solutions since June 2020, based in Dubai. Before joining Varel he was the global Business Development and Strategy Vice President at Weatherford for Drilling and Evaluation. Jordan had a 13-year career with Weatherford initially focused in the Middle East, Asia and Africa covering technical support, field operations and management positions prior to moving into a global role in Houston where he headed up multiple product lines across their Well Construction portfolio. He studied at the University of Derby where he obtained a degree in Law.

Jayme Sperring co-leads commercial activities and executive management within VES, as well as guiding strategic marketing, communications and business development within the enterprise.

Jayme is an innovative business leader with demonstrated success in direct sales, executive management, business development, strategic planning, M&A, and global marketing communications. Jayme spent the majority of his 16-year professional career with National Oilwell Varco, serving in various commercial leadership roles across multiple business lines such as rig equipment, downhole drilling, completions, and intervention technologies. Following NOV, Jayme spent 2012-2015 as the Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Scientific Drilling International and most recently a co-founder and Chief Commercial Officer of Rubicon Oilfield International between 2015-2019, prior to joining VES in June 2020.

He holds two degrees in Business Management and Economics from Rice University and is active in the Houston oil & gas communities as well as serving on board positions for oilfield service and non-profit organizations. Jayme is married with two children and is an outdoor enthusiast with a passion for fishing, hunting and nature conservation.

Witland LeBlanc is experienced in leading functional groups and collaborating with operational counterparts at various oil field service companies. Prior to joining Varel, he spent the last 13 years at Oceaneering International, a subsea engineering and applied technology company. Most recently he has served as the company's Chief Accounting Officer leading their finance modernization efforts while overseeing all finance and accounting functions. Prior to that he served as both the Vice President of Tax and Treasury. Prior to Oceaneering, he served as the Global Tax Director at Modec International and, earlier, Director of Tax at Hydril and then Trico Marine Services, Inc. He started his career at Big Four accounting firms where he provided consulting, M&A and advisory services.

Witland earned his BS degree in accounting at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and his MS degree in tax from the University of New Orleans.

Mike joined Varel in 2010 and has held numerous key leadership positions ranging from Engineering, Sales and Operations. Mike currently serves as our EVP of North America, leading all product business lines while sharing leadership responsibility for our Advanced Manufacturing Partnerships business segment. With a proven track record across multiple disciplines, Mike is widely recognized as a problem-solver and practical thinker within the business.

Mike holds a Bachelors degree in Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines. He is married and together they are passionate about raising their two children and spend a lot of time in sports, traveling and various family activities.

Nixon is the Chairman and CEO of Nixon Energy Investments LLC, a company set up to invest in and advise energy equipment and service businesses with high-growth potential. Prior to establishing Nixon Energy Investments Jim was the President of Sandvik Venture and a member of Sandvik AB’s Group Executive Management.

Nixon entered Sandvik AB when as President and CEO of Texas-based Varel International Energy Services he led the sale of the business to Sandvik AB. Prior to the sale to Sandvik AB the Varel group had become a market leader in the oil and gas service sector, having seen tenfold revenue growth and enterprise value growth in excess of 25 times over. Nixon’s combination of engineering, technology and entrepreneurial skill, along with extensive international business experience, helped him drive the company to become a global leader in drilling and completion technology.

In addition to being Chairman of Varel Energy Solutions, Nixon serves on the Boards and Advisory Boards of Resman AS, a global leader in Reservoir Monitoring using proprietary tracer technology, EcoServ, Inc. A US leader in NOW and NORM waste disposal as well as Offshore and Industrial Robotic Tank cleaning and Mustang Extreme Environmental Services, Inc. a US leader in Environmental Services provider to the Energy, Industrial markets. Nixon is an EY Entrepreneur Of The Year alumnus and has served as a regional, national judge, master coach, and Chairman of the world judging committee.

Richard Spears is one of the owners and managing directors of Spears & Associates, an oilfield market research firm founded in 1965. The firm has over 300 clients worldwide. Richard has been with the firm since 1985. Richard started his professional career as a field engineer for Halliburton in Enid, Oklahoma and has worked on every continent except for the Antarctic.

Richard is a 35-year member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers and the Association of Energy Service Contractors.

Richard is on the board of directors of Varel International Energy Services, a global manufacturer of drill bits and completion equipment, and Advanced Industrial Devices, a manufacturer of artificial lift controls. Richard is on the board of Fellowship for Performing Arts, a Broadway theater company, and is chairman of the board of Regent Preparatory School, a 525 student classical Christian school in Tulsa. Richard has held board seats for Abrado Wellbore Services, Allied Horizontal Wireline Services, Evolution Engineering, Universal Pegasus, Federal Flange, W-Technology LINK and the Bill Shaffer Foundation, some as board chairman.

Richard Spears, along with other family members, invests through a variety of family-owned limited liability corporations, including Sequoyah Capital Partners, Shelter Capital and Council Oaks Partners. In all entities Richard acts as managing partner.

Salil joined Bluewater in 2013 and his responsibilities include deal sourcing, financial modelling, due diligence, execution and monitoring. Salil was previously a Director in the Corporate Finance division at Ruspetro Plc and, before then, an Investment Banking Associate in the Basic Industries group at Citigroup. He is a Rhodes Scholar from University of Oxford and holds a BA (Hons) degree in Economics and Management. Salil currently serves on the board of Unique Group, Galileo, Severn Glocon and Varel International.

Derek Nixon is the current CEO and President of Varel Energy Solutions. He is a dedicated, decisive leader and outstanding team builder with extensive experience both domestically and internationally, Derek has a proven track record of growing top and bottom lines in drilling and completions tools around the world.

Derek started working in the oilfield 14 years ago with Varel Oil Gas Drill Bits in the Barnett Shale as a field sales professional. Derek worked through various levels of responsibility towards becoming a US Regional Manager where he was responsible for the majority of US markets. Following his management role, he took a position in Houston as the Director of Western Hemisphere for Downhole Products, a legacy subsidiary of Varel. In doing so, Derek gained valuable international experience. He was instrumental in setting up the structure of distributers in Latin America along with the sales team and offices in North America. In his most previous position as Vice President for Downhole Products, he was responsible for every facet of the global operating business, including sales, operations, engineering, manufacturing and finance.

Derek went to school at Robert Gordons and Gordonstoun in Scotland, during his time there he was the House Captain and Captain of the Rugby, Skiing and Tennis teams. This experience is where leadership was ingrained in his DNA. After school he played rugby for Aberdeen Grammar before moving to Dallas TX to play for the Dallas Harlequins in the US Super League.