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DERBY PARTNERS
  • HOME
  • ABOUT
  • OUR BUSINESSES
  • LEADERSHIP
  • MINERAL RIGHTS FAQs
  • CCS FAQs
  • CONTACT

OUR LEADERSHIP

Dover’s leadership team shares a long history of collaboration, joint investments, and collectively founding over ten successful companies.


Their expertise spans the full spectrum of the oil & gas, CCS, and broader decarbonization value chains, covering business investment, project development, management, land, finance, engineering, and geology— each area led by seasoned, high-performing executives.


Together, they boast an exceptional track record, having completed over $30 billion in transactions, raised more than $800 million in financing, and delivered outstanding investment results: a 235% IRR and 4.2x MOIC.

Mark Wilson - Founder, PRESIDENT & CEO

 

  • Founder and Chairman, President & CEO of Dover Energy since 2011.
  • Chairman, President & CEO of NorthStar Energy (2009–2020), managing assets in Michigan Basin, Illinois Basin, Texas, and Louisiana.
  • Co-founder and Chairman, President & CEO of Coronado Resources (2004–2009), a North American unconventional resource E&P company, leading through successful sale.
  • Senior Vice President of Corporate Development and Planning, The Williams Companies (2002–2004).
  • Vice President of Corporate Development, Williams (2000–2002).
  • Senior Vice President, Corporate Development, and Managing Director, Koch Petroleum Group & Koch Investments Group at Koch Industries (1997–2000).
  • Senior Management Consultant to the energy industry at Arthur D. Little and Booz-Allen & Hamilton (1992–1997), leading M&A, strategy, change management, and process improvement projects.
  • Refinery Process Engineer at ConocoPhillips (1989–1990).


  • Holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Oklahoma State University.
  • Holds an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Nicolas de Grivel - SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, EMEA & Chief Commercial Officer

  • Joined Dover Energy in 2024 as Senior Vice President, Europe, Middle East, & Africa (EMEA) and Chief Commercial Officer.
  • Founding member of the angel investor network Mustard Seed (2012–2024), focused on high-growth impact ventures; actively sourced and invested in multiple early-stage companies, negotiating win-win agreements.
  • Executive Director and Board Member of SB Mining Limited (2015–2019), overseeing operations of lead and antimony mines and smelter facilities in Myanmar; led project coordination, financial planning, investor relations, and fundraising.
  • Executive Director – Oil & Gas Products, Structured Finance & Acquisitions at Glencore PLC (2000–2012).
  • Early career as a Global M&A team member at The Rothschild Group in Madrid.
     
  • Holds a Baccalauréat with Mathematics major from Institut de l’Alma, France.
  • Earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Reims Management School, France.
  • Holds an MBA from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business, United States.

Roberto Bencini - SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, GEOSCIENCES & Chief Technical Officer

  

  • Joined Dover Energy in 2022 as Senior Vice President, Geosciences and Chief Technical Officer.
  • Founder, President, and Director of GA.I.A. srl since 1999; concurrently served as Expert to the European Commission for Oil & Gas and CCS.
  • Technical Integrator consultant to INGV (Rome) and PTRC (Regina, Canada) on the $25 million “Weyburn” international CO₂ storage research project (2000–2003); co-founded CO2NET, the EU knowledge and advisory network for CCS implementation in Europe.
  • Co-founder and Technical Director of Independent Resources Plc (2005–2015); Senior Consultant through 2017.
  • Co-founded Independent Gas Management srl (focused on Underground Gas Storage projects) in 2002 and Independent Energy Solutions srl.
  • Originated the Sibilla CO₂ storage project (2008–2014), managing the successful Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for Italy’s first CO₂ geological storage exploration and appraisal license.
  • Chief Geologist for North Africa and later Business Development Director for Italy at LASMO Plc (now ENI) from 1985 to 1998, based in London and Rome.
  • Senior Geoscientist at GULF OIL E&P (London, Houston, Pittsburgh) from 1981 to 1985, developing multidisciplinary upstream experience across the U.S., North Sea, Italy, and Tunisia.
  • Early career as Researcher at the Earth Science Department, Pisa University; Hydrogeologist at a private consultancy; and Second Lieutenant in the Geographic Technical Service of the Italian Army (1978–1981).
     
  • Holds an M.S. in Geological Sciences from Pisa University.

Mark Caffey - SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, land

  

  • Joined Dover Energy in 2021 as Senior Vice President, North America.
  • President & CEO of Westgate Minerals, a mineral and royalty acquisition and management company.
  • Founder, President & CEO of The Caffey Group from 1999 to 2021.
  • Partner and Vice President of Land at Newark Energy (2008–2012).
  • Partner and Vice President of Land at ADEXCO Production Company (2000–2008).
  • Senior Landman at Oil and Gas, Ltd, a geologic consulting firm (1987–2000).
  • Founder, President & CEO of Legend Exploration Company (1983–1987).
  • District Land Manager at Dart Energy (1982–1983).
  • Started career as Landman, Senior Grade at Amoco (1978–1982).
     
  • Holds a B.A. in Business & Communication Arts from Austin College.
  • Holds a Master of Education and a Master of Arts in Liberal Arts from Texas Christian University.
     

John HOPKINS - CONTROLLER & ACCOUNTING OFFICER

  • Joined Dover Energy in 2011 as Controller and Accounting Officer, overseeing financial reporting and compliance.
  • Controller at NorthStar Energy from 2009 to 2020, managing accounting operations and internal controls.
  • Controller at Coronado Resources from 2006 until its sale in 2009.
     
  • Holds a B.S. in Business Administration and a Master of Accountancy from the University of Arkansas.


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