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.
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Kang Chen

Chief Information Officer

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Albert Huddleston

CEO

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Gordon Huddleston

President and Partner

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Kat Lyles

General Counsel

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Don McClure

Chief Financial Officer

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Clayton McGratty

Chief Administrative Officer

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Lola Oyewole

Chief Human Resources Officer

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Preston Phillips

Chief Commercial Officer

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Andrea Wescott Passman

Chief Operating Officer

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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.

Lola Oyewole

Chief Human Resources Officer

Ms. Oyewole is Chief Human Resources Officer at Aethon Energy. She has 20-plus years of experience in talent management, and previously served as Vice President, Human Resources and Global Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer at Ocwen Financial Corporation. Prior to Ocwen, Ms. Oyewole was Senior Director, Human Resources of Apollo Education Group, and held several HR leadership roles at GE Capital. She holds an MBA from Southern Methodist University’s Cox School of Business, and a Bachelor of Science degree from Ball State University.

Preston Phillips

Chief Commercial Officer

Mr. Phillips is Chief Commercial 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 Senior Vice President of Acquisitions & Divestitures and Commercial, 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.

Andrea Wescott Passman

Chief Operating Officer

Ms. Passman is Chief Operating Officer of Aethon Energy. She joined Aethon in 2023 with 25 years of development and operations leadership experience in the oil and gas industry, previously serving as Chief Operating Officer of Caerus Oil and Gas. Prior to Caerus, she served in engineering and operational leadership roles at publicly traded CNX for five years, most recently as Senior Vice President of Engineering and Operations. Earlier in her career, she held planning and project management roles at Greenshale Energy and Halliburton. She holds an MBA from the University of Denver, and a B.S. in petroleum engineering from Colorado School of Mines.

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.