Gran Tierra Energy Announces Management Changes

CALGARY, July 1, 2014 /PRNewswire/ - Gran Tierra Energy Inc. ("Gran Tierra Energy") (NYSE MKT: GTE) (TSX: GTE), a company focused on oil exploration and production in South America, today announces management changes.

Shane O'Leary, Gran Tierra Energy's Chief Operating Officer ("COO"), has elected to retire. Duncan Nightingale, currently President, Gran Tierra Energy Colombia, will be promoted to COO to replace Mr. O'Leary.  Adrian Coral, currently Senior Operations Manager, Gran Tierra Energy Colombia, will be promoted to President, Gran Tierra Energy Colombia to replace Mr. Nightingale.

"Shane has played a key role in the successful growth of Gran Tierra Energy over the past five years, and he has been an influential factor in creating Gran Tierra Energy's positive reputation in the industry. Similarly, Duncan has been a guiding influence on the continued success of our Colombia business in recent years," said Dana Coffield, President and Chief Executive Officer of Gran Tierra Energy. "Adrian Coral has held progressively responsible positions in the Gran Tierra Energy Colombia business unit and brings significant experience from other multinational companies to build on our success," concluded Coffield.

O'Leary added, "Gran Tierra Energy has the unique combination of great people and high impact projects. It's been a great experience being part of the growth story over the past five years and I look forward to following ‎the success of the company going forward." 

To ensure a smooth transition, there will be a one month overlap of positions.  Specifically Mr. O'Leary will retire on October 1, 2014, with Mr. Nightingale taking on the COO role effective September 1, 2014.  Adrian moves into the President, Gran Tierra Energy Colombia role on August 1, 2014, providing a one month overlap with Mr. Nightingale.

Mr. Nightingale is a professional Geologist with a total of 32 years of corporate head office and resident in-country international operating experience, spanning all aspects of managing exploration programs, development and production operations, new business ventures, portfolio management and strategic planning. Mr. Nightingale joined Gran Tierra Energy in 2009, where he served in Gran Tierra Energy's Calgary, Canada office as its Vice President of Exploration from 2009 to 2011 and was promoted to President of Gran Tierra Energy Colombia in August 2011.  Mr. Nightingale graduated from the University of Nottingham in the U.K. with a Bachelor of Science degree with honors in Geology.

Mr. Coral is a professional Engineer with a total of 18 years of experience in the oil and gas industry.  Mr. Coral joined Gran Tierra Energy in 2006 as an operations engineer in Gran Tierra Energy Colombia, and was promoted to Senior Operations Manager of Gran Tierra Energy Colombia in 2013.  Mr. Coral graduated from the Universidad de América - Bogotá D.C. with a degree in Petroleum Engineering and from the School of Business Management - Bogotá D.C with a degree in Project Management.

About Gran Tierra Energy Inc.

Gran Tierra Energy is an international oil and gas exploration and production company, headquartered in Calgary, Canada, incorporated in the United States, trading on the NYSE MKT (GTE) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (GTE), and operating in South America. Gran Tierra Energy holds interests in producing and prospective properties in Colombia, Peru, and Brazil. Gran Tierra Energy has a strategy that focuses on establishing a portfolio of producing properties, plus production enhancement and exploration opportunities to provide a base for future growth.

Gran Tierra Energy's Securities and Exchange Commission filings are available on a web site maintained by the Securities and Exchange Commission at http://www.sec.gov and on SEDAR at http://www.sedar.com.

SOURCE Gran Tierra Energy Inc.