LINDEN ENERGY TEAM
Stephen Payne - President & Chief Executive Officer
Stephen Payne - President & Chief Executive Officer
Stephen Payne - President & Chief Executive Officer
Mr. Payne has over 25 years of Governmental Affairs, Public Relations, and Energy Consulting experience. He has provided government affairs representation to the countries of Pakistan, Azerbaijan, and the UAE as well as corporations such as JP Morgan, SAP Software, Continental Airlines, Boeing, Lockheed Martin among many others.
During hi
Mr. Payne has over 25 years of Governmental Affairs, Public Relations, and Energy Consulting experience. He has provided government affairs representation to the countries of Pakistan, Azerbaijan, and the UAE as well as corporations such as JP Morgan, SAP Software, Continental Airlines, Boeing, Lockheed Martin among many others.
During his long career in energy consulting, Mr. Payne has negotiated over 27 mtpa of LNG sales and been instrumental in the development of several large LNG export projects in the United States, as well as helping pass the laws written in 2012 allowing for the export of US LNG from deepwater ports. He has also represented Yukos, Tatneft Oil, and Itera Gas in their development of various international projects. He also represented the Government of Turkmenistan in re-assembling a consortium of nations and international firms to build a natural gas pipeline from Turkmenistan to Pakistan. Mr. Payne coordinated the project and organized a trilateral summit between the Presidents of Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan that produced a memorandum of understanding regarding the TAPI pipeline, restoring the project’s viability after years of dormancy. As an expert in the energy industry, Mr. Payne is frequently asked to comment on a wide variety of issues by major print and online media publications and led the NATO to think tank conference panel discussion on energy security in Riga, Latvia. He also chaired a NATO Future Leaders Forum comprised of leaders from thirty-five NATO member and partner countries. Additionally, in 2016, Linden Energy committed to 10% of the capacity of the Gas Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria (IGB) pipeline in 2016 which he plans to use to diversify gas supply in Bulgaria.
Mr. Payne also served as a Senior Presidential Advance Representative of The White House. In this role, he traveled with President Bush to Jordan for the Red Sea Summit in June 2003, with Vice President Cheney to the Middle East in 2002 & 2005, Kazakhstan in 2006, and Afghanistan for the historic inauguration of Afghan President Karzai.
Prior to his consulting work, Mr. Payne also previously served in several capacities during President Bush’s campaigns as well as roles in Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson’s office, and at the Texas State Capitol. Mr. Payne has served as a Board Member of the National Defense University Foundation, was Deputy Director and Congressional Liaison of the 2001 Presidential Inaugural Committee, and served on the Department of Homeland Security Advisory Committee.
Ray Leonard - Chief Operating Officer
Stephen Payne - President & Chief Executive Officer
Stephen Payne - President & Chief Executive Officer
Ray Leonard serves as Linden Strategies’ Senior Advisor on Energy Policy where he works with Clients to navigate the complex relationships between government and industry. Ray is an expert on U.S. and International energy policy, having served in management roles at several major oil and gas corporations. In addition to his work for Lind
Ray Leonard serves as Linden Strategies’ Senior Advisor on Energy Policy where he works with Clients to navigate the complex relationships between government and industry. Ray is an expert on U.S. and International energy policy, having served in management roles at several major oil and gas corporations. In addition to his work for Linden, Ray is an expert on climate change and has spoken at numerous conferences about the opportunities to combat climate change while still promoting global growth through the increased utlization of natural gas.
Ray Leonard was born in New York and received a Bachelor of Science in Geology from the University of Arizona and a Master of Arts in Geology from the University of Texas at Austin. He is currently President of Anglo Eurasia, a consulting firm for the Oil and Gas Industry. He has held executive positions with Amoco, FIOC, the Russian Oil Major YUKOS, the Hungarian National Oil Company MOL, the Kuwait Energy Company and was most recently Chief Executive Officer of Hyperdynamics, an independent oil company exploring for oil and gas in West Africa.
Ambassador Matthew Bryza - Member of the Board
Stephen Payne - President & Chief Executive Officer
Ambassador Matthew Bryza - Member of the Board
Ambassador Matthew Bryza is a Non-Resident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Global Energy, Eurasia, and Turkey Centers and Board Member of the Jamestown Foundation, both located in Washington, DC. He was Director of the International Center for Defence and Security in Tallinn, Estonia, during 2012-2015, where he founded the Center
Ambassador Matthew Bryza is a Non-Resident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Global Energy, Eurasia, and Turkey Centers and Board Member of the Jamestown Foundation, both located in Washington, DC. He was Director of the International Center for Defence and Security in Tallinn, Estonia, during 2012-2015, where he founded the Center’s energy security and cyber security programs.
Bryza resides in Istanbul, where he serves on the Board of Turcas, a publicly traded energy company in fuel distribution and power generation. He is also CEO of Lamor Turkey, a Turkish-Finnish joint venture in environmental solutions. Additionally, Bryza is CEO of IKAR Energy, a private equity fund, and Managing Director of the IKAR Institute, a business think tank. He also serves on the Board of Nobel Upstream, an oil exploration and production company based in London.
In 2012, Bryza completed a 23-year career as a U.S. diplomat, culminating as Ambassador to Azerbaijan.
Earlier, he served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State (2005-2009) and Director on the National Security Council Staff at the White House (2001-2005) for U.S. relations with Turkey, Cyprus, Greece, Central Asia, and the South Caucasus, as well as Eurasian energy security.
During 1998 to 2001, Ambassador Bryza was the Deputy Special Advisor to the President and Secretary of State on Caspian Basin Energy Security.
He also served in the U.S. Missions to Russia (1995-1997) and Poland (1989-1991).
Bryza is a frequent commentator in media outlets that have included CNN, Al Jazeera, The BBC, Fox News, The Financial Times, Washington Post, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, and Chicago Tribune, as well as numerous outlets in Turkey and the South Caucasus.
He is the recipient of Estonia’s Cross of Terra Mariana (Fourth Class) and Georgia’s Order of St. George.
Ambassador Bryza received his bachelor’s degree in international relations from Stanford University and his master’s degree from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.
LINDEN ENERGY Advisory board
70th Secretary of State Mike Pompeo - Chairman of the Advisory Board
Rt Hon Mark Pritchard MP - Vice Chairman of the Advisory Board & Lead Marketing Counsel
Rt Hon Mark Pritchard MP - Vice Chairman of the Advisory Board & Lead Marketing Counsel
Michael R. Pompeo was sworn in as the 70th Secretary of State on April 26, 2018. He previously served as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency from January 2017 to April 2018.
Prior to joining the Trump Administration, Mr. Pompeo was serving in his fourth term as congressman from Kansas’ 4th District. He served on the House Intellig
Michael R. Pompeo was sworn in as the 70th Secretary of State on April 26, 2018. He previously served as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency from January 2017 to April 2018.
Prior to joining the Trump Administration, Mr. Pompeo was serving in his fourth term as congressman from Kansas’ 4th District. He served on the House Intelligence Committee, as well as the Energy and Commerce Committee and House Select Benghazi Committee.
Prior to his service in Congress, Mr. Pompeo founded Thayer Aerospace, where he served as CEO for more than a decade. He later became President of Sentry International, an oilfield equipment manufacturing, distribution, and service company.
Mr. Pompeo graduated first in his class at the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1986 and served as a cavalry officer patrolling the Iron Curtain before the fall of the Berlin Wall. He also served with the 2nd Squadron, 7th Cavalry in the US Army’s Fourth Infantry Division.
After leaving active duty, Mr. Pompeo graduated from Harvard Law School, having been an editor of the Harvard Law Review.
Mr. Pompeo was born on December 30, 1963, in Orange, California. He is married to Susan Pompeo and has one son, Nick.
Rt Hon Mark Pritchard MP - Vice Chairman of the Advisory Board & Lead Marketing Counsel
Rt Hon Mark Pritchard MP - Vice Chairman of the Advisory Board & Lead Marketing Counsel
Rt Hon Mark Pritchard MP - Vice Chairman of the Advisory Board & Lead Marketing Counsel
Mark is a marketing communications expert having advised a wide range of leading companies on marketing communications over 25 years.
He has served as a Member of the UK Parliament for the past 18 years.
He is a former member of the UK’s intelligence and security committee. He previously served as the Prime Minister’s Trade and Investment E
Mark is a marketing communications expert having advised a wide range of leading companies on marketing communications over 25 years.
He has served as a Member of the UK Parliament for the past 18 years.
He is a former member of the UK’s intelligence and security committee. He previously served as the Prime Minister’s Trade and Investment Envoy to Georgia and Armenia.
Mark also served on the UK’s Joint Committee on National Security Strategy, the Council of Europe (PACE) and NATO PA.
He holds two master's degrees: in International Diplomacy and another in Marketing Management. In addition, he holds other professional and post-graduate marketing and business qualifications.
Humberto Sirvent - Advisory Board Member
Rt Hon Mark Pritchard MP - Vice Chairman of the Advisory Board & Lead Marketing Counsel
Humberto Sirvent - Advisory Board Member
Mr. Sirvent has 13 years of experience and a strong background as an energy investment banker concentrating on E&P, oilfield services, power and renewables. Over the past five years he has participated in M&A and has raised capital or originated $1.8 billion worth of projects in the energy sector.
Humberto Sirvent is currently CEO/ Managin
Mr. Sirvent has 13 years of experience and a strong background as an energy investment banker concentrating on E&P, oilfield services, power and renewables. Over the past five years he has participated in M&A and has raised capital or originated $1.8 billion worth of projects in the energy sector.
Humberto Sirvent is currently CEO/ Managing Partner of Arb Energy and Locin Oil Corporation which operates and owns over 200,000 acres and 350 producing gas wells which 77 are currently producing helium as well.
Humberto Sirventrecently co-sponsored a $172.5mm SPAC that trades on the Nasdaq under CENQU Corp with Benjamin Salinas, Vice Chairman of Grupo Salinas. Mr. Sirvent’svaluable work expertise includes Institutional Credit and Wealth Management at Merrill Lynch and UBS Financial Services for over ten years, where he managed over $2.5 billion of client assets. He is also a coowner of Clearinghouse Securities, LLC
Danny Coulson - Advisory Board Member
Danny Coulson - Advisory Board Member
Humberto Sirvent - Advisory Board Member
Danny Coulson is a native Texan who attended Texas Christian University, Southern Methodist University School of Law, and the FBI Academy.
Mr. Coulson served in the Federal Bureau of Investigation for thirty one years. During his career with the FBI he held the position of Deputy Assistant Director. Mr. Coulson also created and commanded
Danny Coulson is a native Texan who attended Texas Christian University, Southern Methodist University School of Law, and the FBI Academy.
Mr. Coulson served in the Federal Bureau of Investigation for thirty one years. During his career with the FBI he held the position of Deputy Assistant Director. Mr. Coulson also created and commanded the FBI’s Hostage Rescue Team. He was responsible for worldwide terrorism investigations, and commanded four FBI Field Divisions during his career with the FBI and is the recipient of the Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service.
Mr. Coulson was selected by the Director of the FBI as a commander of the Oklahoma City Bombing investigation. Now he handles security matters for a major sports organization and multinational corporations throughout the United States and abroad. Mr. Coulson also appears as an Expert Witness, providing testimony for major violent crime cases across the country. Executive Protection is a service that is tailor made by Mr. Coulson himself to suit each of his clients individualized needs and has provided security for seven heads of state. Mr. Coulson also regularly appears on Network Television as an expert in terrorism and violent crime.
Fred Zeidman - Advisory Board Member
Danny Coulson - Advisory Board Member
Fred Zeidman - Advisory Board Member
Fred Zeidman is Chairman of WoodRock & Co., a full service investment banking firm. He
served as Chairman and CEO of Good Works Acquisition Corp. until it’s sale to Cipher Mining
and is currently Chairman of Good Works Acquisition Corp.II. both publicly held SPACs. Mr. Zeidman formerly served as Chairman of Gordian Group LLC, a U.S. inv
Fred Zeidman is Chairman of WoodRock & Co., a full service investment banking firm. He
served as Chairman and CEO of Good Works Acquisition Corp. until it’s sale to Cipher Mining
and is currently Chairman of Good Works Acquisition Corp.II. both publicly held SPACs. Mr. Zeidman formerly served as Chairman of Gordian Group LLC, a U.S. investment bank
specializing in board level advice in complex, distressed or “story” financial matters.
Mr. Zeidman is Co-Chair and Director of Council for a Secure America (CSA), an organization dedicated to promoting United States energy independence and its impact on United States foreign policy.
Mr. Zeidman, Chairman Emeritus of the United States Holocaust Memorial Council was appointed by President George W. Bush in March 2002 and served in that position from 2002-2010. A prominent Houston based business and civic leader; Mr. Zeidman also is Chairman Emeritus of the University of Texas Health Science System Houston. He is formerly National Chairman of the Development Corp of Israel Campaign (Israel Bonds) and served on the Board of the National World War II Museum.
Over the course of his distinguished 50-year career, Mr. Zeidman has been involved in numerous high-profile workouts, restructurings and reorganizations. He was the former CEO, President and Chairman of Seitel, Inc., a Houston-based onshore seismic data provider where he was instrumental in the successful turnaround of the Company. He served as lead Director of Straight Path Communications, Inc. until its sale to Verizon in 2018. Director of REMA a division of NRG Corp. and he further serves on the board of Prosperity Bank and was formerly Restructuring Officer of TransMeridian Exploration Inc. and Chief Bankruptcy Trustee of AremisSoft Corp. He held the post of Chairman of the Board and CEO of Unibar Corporation, the largest domestic independent drilling fluids company, until its sale to Anchor Drilling Fluids in 1992.
Mr. Zeidman holds a Bachelor’s degree from Washington University in St. Louis and a Master’s in Business Administration from New York University.