Executive Team
Meet our senior management team
Senior Executive Team
Craig Bryksa
President & Chief Executive Officer
Craig Bryksa
President & Chief Executive Officer
Craig Bryksa is the President, Chief Executive Officer and a Director of Veren, roles he has held since September 2018. Prior to his current position, Mr. Bryksa was Vice President, Engineering West and held a number of senior management roles since joining the company in 2006, directly overseeing the development and operations of each of the company's core assets. Mr. Bryksa's experience as a professional engineer in the oil and gas industry also includes working with companies such as Enerplus Resources Fund and McDaniel and Associates Consultants.
Mr. Bryksa is a member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta and the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Saskatchewan. He holds a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Regina.
Ryan Gritzfeldt
Chief Operating Officer
Ryan Gritzfeldt
Chief Operating Officer
Ryan Gritzfeldt is the Chief Operating Officer of Veren, a role he has held since 2018. Prior to that, he was Vice President, Marketing and Innovation and Vice President, Engineering and Business Development East from 2010 until 2018. Additionally, he was Engineering Manager, Southeast Saskatchewan from 2006 until 2009. Mr. Gritzfeldt has worked in the oil and gas industry since 1998, having held a variety of roles with companies such as Shelter Bay and Talisman Energy Inc., in addition to Veren.
Mr. Gritzfeldt is a member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta and Saskatchewan. He holds a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in industrial systems engineering from the University of Regina.
Ken Lamont
Chief Financial Officer
Ken Lamont
Chief Financial Officer
Ken Lamont is the Chief Financial Officer of Veren, a role he has held since 2016. Prior to that, he was Vice President, Finance and Treasurer. Mr. Lamont has worked in the oil and gas industry since 2001, having held a variety of roles with companies such as Shelter Bay, Direct Energy Marketing Ltd. and Shell Trading Gas and Power Canada Ltd. Prior to 2001, he was a senior manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
Mr. Lamont holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree (with distinction) from the University of Alberta, is a Chartered Professional Accountant and holds the ICD.D designation. He is a member of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Alberta and the Institute of Corporate Directors.
Mark Eade
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
Mark Eade
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
Mark Eade is the Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, at Veren. Mr. Eade has served as corporate secretary since 2004 and was formerly Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary. Prior to being named Vice President in September 2015, he was a partner with Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP law firm from August 2011 to August 2015. Prior thereto, Mr. Eade was a partner at McCarthy Tetrault LLP. Mr. Eade has over 20 years of experience in corporate governance, securities and mergers and acquisitions law and has represented clients in a number of significant acquisitions and public offerings.
Mr. Eade holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree (with honours) and a LL.B. degree from the University of Saskatchewan and was called to the Alberta bar in 1994. He is a member of the Law Society of Alberta and the Canadian Bar Association.
Justin Foraie
Senior Vice President, Operations and Marketing
Justin Foraie
Senior Vice President, Operations and Marketing
Justin Foraie is the Senior Vice President, Operations and Marketing for Veren. Mr. Foraie has been with the company since 2009 and has held roles of increasing responsibility within engineering, operations and marketing, in both Canada and the United States, and has served in an executive role since 2018. Prior to joining Veren, Mr. Foraie worked for Talisman Energy.
Mr. Foraie graduated from the University of Regina with a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in petroleum systems engineering and the Stanford Graduate School of Business LEAD program. Mr. Foraie became a Registered Professional Engineer in 2008 and is a member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta and Saskatchewan.
Garret Holt
Senior Vice President, Strategy & Planning
Garret Holt
Senior Vice President, Strategy & Planning
Garret Holt is Veren's Senior Vice President, Strategy & Planning, and has been on the company's executive team since 2019. Mr. Holt has over 30 years of experience in the oil and gas industry. Most recently, he was an Executive Director in Energy Investment Banking with JPMorgan. Prior to that, Mr. Holt held senior executive positions with Wapiti Energy as Chief Operating Officer and Fairways E&P as Senior Vice President of Exploration and Production.
He graduated from the University of Tulsa with a Bachelor of Science, Petroleum Engineering (Magna Cum Laude) and is a Registered Professional Engineer.
Michael Politeski
Senior Vice President, Finance and Treasurer
Michael Politeski
Senior Vice President, Finance and Treasurer
Michael Politeski is the Senior Vice President, Finance and Treasurer. He has held an executive role since joining the company in 2015. Mr. Politeski has worked in the energy industry since 2003 in various financial and managerial positions. Prior to joining Veren, Mr. Politeski was the Treasurer and Corporate Controller of Enerplus Corporation and also held management roles with Halliburton Canada and KPMG LLP.
Mr. Politeski is a Chartered Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree (with distinction) from the University of Saskatchewan. He is a member of the Institute of Chartered Professional Accountants of Alberta.
Shelly Witwer
Senior Vice President, Business Development
Shelly Witwer
Senior Vice President, Business Development
Shelly Witwer is Veren’s Senior Vice President, Business Development, a role she has held since 2022. Since joining the company in 2007, she has held a number of senior management roles, including Vice President, Land and Vice President, Business Development. Ms. Witwer has significant experience in land and business development roles, having previously worked with companies such as BP Energy, Burlington Resources and Bear Ridge Resources.
Ms. Witwer is a member of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Landmen and the Petroleum and Acquisition Divestment Association. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Energy Economics from the University of Calgary.
Investor Relations Contact
Sarfraz Somani
Manager, Investor Relations
Sarfraz Somani
Manager, Investor Relations
Sarfraz Somani is responsible for Veren’s Investor Relations and Corporate Communications functions. He has been with the company since 2017 and leading in this position since April 2024. Mr. Somani has worked in the oil and gas industry since 2007, specializing in business development (A&D), corporate and strategic planning, and equity capital markets.
Mr. Somani holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree with distinction from Haskayne School of Business at the University of Calgary and is a CFA charterholder.