Our Commitment to Leadership and Diversity
Over more than 30 years, Aethon has grown in different and unconventional ways to become a leading low-emission operator and one of the largest, private energy producers in the U.S. The foundation of our success is inextricably linked to our support of open and inclusive dialogue that respects and values differing opinions – reflected by a diverse group of leaders that are focused on achieving our shared vision.
We are committed to leadership diversity that both represents and cultivates an environment where all our team members can thrive, contribute their best, and shape a brighter future for Aethon and the stakeholders we serve. We value diversity at every level of our organization, which enhances our ability to make better decisions, understand our investors, customers, and team members more deeply, and drive sustainable growth. Not only is it the right thing to do, it is crucial for the long-term success and prosperity of our company.
Kang Chen
Chief Information Officer
Albert Huddleston
CEO
Gordon Huddleston
President and Partner
Kat Lyles
General Counsel
Don McClure
Chief Financial Officer
Clayton McGratty
Chief Administrative Officer
Preston Phillips
Co-Chief Operating Officer
Valli Shanmugam
Co-Chief Operating Officer
Aaron Wimberly
Chief Health, Safety and Environmental Officer
Kang Chen
Chief Information Officer
Mr. Chen is Chief Information Officer at Aethon Energy. He has more than 25 years of strategic information, technology and digital experience, and over 20 years in the energy and chemical industries. He previously served as Manager of Digital and IT for ConocoPhillips Lower 48, which he joined through its acquisition of Concho Resources as Vice President and Chief Information Officer. Prior to Concho, Kang held multiple leadership roles at LyondellBasell and Deloitte. Mr. Chen holds a Master’s degree in Management Information Systems from Boston University, a Master’s degree in Finance from Suffolk University and a B.S. in Finance from Tianjin University of Finance and Economics.
Albert Huddleston
CEO
Mr. Huddleston is Chief Executive Officer and the founder of Aethon Energy. He has more than 37 years of experience in investing, developing and managing oil and gas assets. Prior to founding Aethon in 1990, Mr. Huddleston worked as an Independent Petroleum Landman for Hunt Energy Corporation and Houston Oil and Minerals, where he focused on reservoir, drilling and production engineering. Mr. Huddleston earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering Science from Vanderbilt University.
Gordon Huddleston
President and Partner
Mr. Huddleston is President and Partner of Aethon Energy, a leading private investment firm focused on acquiring, operating and developing onshore energy assets across North America. He leads corporate strategy and chairs Aethon’s investment committee, having played a critical role in Aethon’s early expansion into the Haynesville Basin, investments in sustainable energy solutions, and advocacy for net-zero natural gas as a key driver of the energy transition.
After working in investment banking, Huddleston joined Aethon in 2007 to focus on the monetization of Aethon I. He has been instrumental in raising capital to support Aethon’s vertically integrated upstream and midstream investments for Aethon II, Aethon United and Aethon III, representing more than $7 billion of invested capital since he joined.
Huddleston is a fourth-generation investor and developer of energy resources, but also draws on diverse investment experience in distressed real estate and credit assets, multifamily real estate development, and downstream refinery assets. He also served as a board director of Silvermet (TSX Venture: SYI), a minerals processing business that is now part of Global Atomic Corporation (TSX: GLO).
He currently serves as a Board Director of Veritex Holdings, Inc., (NASDAQ: VBTX) including its Audit, Asset-Liability and Information Security committees, and as a member of the Dallas Wildcat Committee and ADAM Energy Forum. Previously, he served on the Dallas Council of the Maguire Energy Institute at the SMU Cox School of Business. Mr. Huddleston earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering Science from Vanderbilt University, and is an active supporter of Café Momentum and The Folds of Honor.
Kat Lyles
General Counsel
Ms. Lyles is General Counsel at Aethon Energy. Prior to joining Aethon in 2023, she was Assistant General Counsel and Regulatory Manager at Merit Energy Company, where she held several roles leading internal legal and compliance efforts. Ms. Lyles received a B.S. degree from New York University, Leonard N. Stern School of Business, a J.D. from the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University, and a LL.M. in Taxation from New York University School of Law. She holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation and serves as Sponsorship and Scholarship Chair for the Energy Law Section of the Dallas Bar Association.
Don McClure
Chief Financial Officer
Mr. McClure is Chief Financial Officer of Aethon Energy. Prior to joining Aethon in 2015, he served as a Vice President and Officer for Encana and its predecessor company, Pan Canadian Energy Services, where he oversaw financial and business services functions for U.S. operations. He previously was Vice President and Marketing Controller at Vastar Resources Inc., and Marketing Trading Controls Officer at Arco Oil & Gas Company. Mr. McClure earned his MBA from Southern Methodist University and a Master of Accounting degree from Northwestern Oklahoma State University.
Clayton McGratty
Chief Administrative Officer
Mr. McGratty is Chief Administrative Officer at Aethon Energy. Prior to joining Aethon in 2021, he was Vice President, Communications at Standard Industries, a global industrial holding company. He previously was Director and Head of Corporate & U.S. Communications at Tradeweb Markets, and held several roles at communications agencies where he represented a range of clients in financial services, energy and economic development. He earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Rhetoric and Communications Studies from the University of Richmond.
Preston Phillips
Co-Chief Operating Officer
Mr. Phillips is co-Chief Operations Officer at Aethon Energy. He has more than 20 years of acquisitions, divestitures and development experience in the oil and gas industry. He previously served as Chief Commercial Officer, and prior to joining Aethon in 2002, he was in Marketing and Sales for Texas Instruments. Mr. Phillips earned an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin and a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Texas A&M University.
Valli Shanmugam
Co-Chief Operating Officer
Mr. Shanmugam is Co-Chief Operating Officer at Aethon Energy. He previously served as Senior Vice President of Development and held multiple engineering and operations roles during his fifteen-plus years at the firm. Prior to joining Aethon, he managed high profile artificial lift projects for key clients at Schlumberger. Mr. Shanmugam earned his MS degree in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Madras.
Aaron Wimberly
Chief Health, Safety and Environmental Officer
Mr. Wimberly is Chief Health, Safety and Environmental Officer at Aethon Energy. He has more than 20 years of experience in the oil and gas industry across refinery and pipeline operations, management, and business development. Prior to joining Aethon in 2023, he served as Vice President and Department Head of the EHS Resources Group at EnLink Midstream, and previously held health, safety and environmental roles at Earth Consulting Group, Shaw Environmental, and Professional Technical Support Services. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture, Environmental Management Systems, with a concentration in Resource Conservation, from Louisiana State University Baton Rouge.