John Horsburgh

Upstream Senior Executive

Greater Aberdeen Area

About

Consulting Director in my own limited company www.petro-sphere.com. Previously a Senior Executive in a top 5 UK North Sea Exploration and Production company listed on the FTSE 250. Broad hands-on strategic, technical, commercial and business skills. Reservoir and field development specialism. Experience at all stages of exploration, appraisal and development projects in multinational major and independent energy companies. Accomplished leader and project manager. Dedicated, clear thinking and authentic. Alumni of London Business School executive education and Shell professional training.

Experience

  • Managing Director at Altera Infrastructure
    Apr 2026 - Present · 3 mos

  • Consulting Director at Petrosphere Consulting Limited
    Feb 2025 - Apr 2026 · 1 yr 3 mos

  • Ithaca Energy (16 yrs 9 mos)
    • General Manager Subsurface and Wells
      Jan 2022 - Jan 2025 · 3 yrs 1 mo

      Full lifecycle accountability for Wells function and Well operations. Continued to lead reservoir development and corporate growth agenda.

    • Reservoir Development and NOJV Director
      Dec 2020 - Jan 2022 · 1 yr 2 mos

      Added Non Operated Joint Venture accountability to my role, representing a third of the company's production and expenditure.

    • Director of Subsurface and Growth
      Nov 2019 - Dec 2020 · 1 yr 2 mos

      Leading reservoir management, reservoir development, exploration, business development led growth evaluations and corporate head of reserves and resources for one of the top five North Sea E&P companies. Responsible for directing a large group of subsurface professionals, ranging from exploration geoscientists to field development reservoir engineers following the purchase of the former Chevron North Sea assets in 2019. I also oversee the strategic direction of Information Technology, services and data. Reporting to the CEO, I had executive responsibilities for staff, governance and business performance. I was an active member of the corporate executive committee which decided on policies, restructuring, recruiting, real estate, culture and values, reward and recognition, talent management, capital allocation, cost reduction programmes and investor/lender relations.

  • Subsurface Lead -International Field Development Projects at Shell
    Aug 2004 - May 2008 · 3 yrs 10 mos

  • Development Geoscientist at Shell
    1999 - 2004 · 5 yrs