Mr. Israel is a managing member of the General Partner, a managing member of the Manager and a member of the Investment Committee of One Stone Holdings, LP, the largest and controlling shareholder in BlueCrest Energy Inc. Mr. Israel was a Partner at Compass Advisers, LLP, a transatlantic strategic advisory and private investment firm with offices in New York, London and Shanghai. During his time at Compass, Mr. Israel was the head of the firm’s energy practice. He has been involved in a wide range of energy related engagements, principal investments and corporate finance, including exclusive advisory to Lukoil on the formation of its strategic relationship with ConocoPhillips.
Prior to joining Compass in May 2000, Mr. Israel was Head of the Energy Department of Schroder & Co. Inc., where he advised companies in all segments of the energy industry. Notable assignments include Conoco Inc. management on its separation from Dupont Inc., which resulted in the largest IPO completed, to that date, in U.S. history. Mr. Israel has initiated and been a principal in a number of energy related investments including Venture Production Company, Brasoil Do Brasil, Hart Energy, Canyon Offshore Company and Suelopetrol C.A. Currently, Mr. Israel is also a Director of Brasoil do Brasil, an independent E&P company based in Brazil; W&T Offshore, an exploration and production company operating exclusively in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico; Suelopetrol C.A., a Venezuelan company engaged in seismic data gathering and exploration for oil and gas; Hart Energy Publishing, a trade publishing company covering the energy sector; API, Inc. a company which manufactures secure equipment for U.S. and foreign government agencies. Mr. Israel holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BA from Middlebury College. He speaks Spanish and French and served in the U.S. Peace Corps in Latin America and West Africa.