A.T. (Trem) Smith

Trem Smith serves as the Executive Chairman of the Board, effective January 2023.

Mr. Smith served as Chief Executive Officer, President and director from March 2017 through December 2022, and was appointed Board Chairman in February 2019. Prior to being named Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Smith began an informal consulting relationship with Berry in May 2016, followed by a formal consulting relationship in October 2016, then served as interim Chief Executive Officer until his formal appointment in March 2017.

Mr. Smith has over 36 years of experience in the oil and gas industry. In January 2014, Mr. Smith founded TS&J Consulting, where he served until joining Berry, which focused on providing consulting services to distressed companies and assets in the United States and United Kingdom. From January 2007 until January 2014, Mr. Smith was President and Chief Executive Officer at Hillwood International Energy, L.P. and HKN Energy Ltd., which focused on discoveries and production in the United States and northern Iraq.

Mr. Smith spent 25 years of his career at Chevron Corporation (NYSE: CVX), from 1981 until 2006, where he served in a number of leadership positions with increasing responsibilities in Russia, Thailand and multiple locations in the United States, including La Habra and San Francisco, California. While at Chevron, Mr. Smith was exposed to all phases of the business, including production, operations, exploration, business development, mergers and acquisitions, finance and technology. Mr. Smith graduated magna cum laude from Amherst College with a major in Geology and minor in Russian and received a Master’s degree and PhD in Geology from Pennsylvania State University.

Mr. Smith brings knowledge and experience in all phases of oil and gas exploration and production spanning a career of over 35 years to the Board. In addition to managerial and operational experience in the upstream domestic and international energy business, he is knowledgeable about our assets and the specific strengths and challenges associated with our operations. From his extensive international experience, he also brings knowledge and experience in strategically dealing with regulatory agencies and other critical stakeholders, as well as the political environment.