About Us
Executive Management
Mahendran Samuel
Founder & CEO
Mahendran Samuel is the Founder and CEO of Riverstone Resources. With more than 35 years of experience across mining, exploration, development, and commodities trading, he is a widely respected industry leader known for his depth of expertise, strategic judgment, and decisive leadership.
His operational focus spans hydrocarbons, power generation, precious and base metals, diamonds, and heavy mineral sands. Under his direction, Riverstone Resources is committed to increasing production capacity, strengthening operational efficiency, and expanding its global resource portfolio for long-term, sustainable growth.
John G. F. McLeod, P. Eng.,FEC
VP Engineering
John McLeod P.Eng., has over 40 years of technical, operational and management experience in the upstream oil and gas industry, both domestic and international. He spent 15 years with Amoco Canada in Canada and the USA, including four years as Chief Engineer. He has served as an officer and/or director of several Canadian public and private energy companies. In addition to his North American experience, he has been involved in exploration, development and EOR projects internationally and has been a director of several international oil companies including Heritage Oil Plc, and has held the positions of President and CEO of several international public companies, including Arakis Energy Corp in Sudan, Rally Energy Corp. in
Egypt, and United Hydrocarbon International Corp in Chad.
John is a member and a Past President of the Association of Professional Engineers and
Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA) and a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE).
Ben Lehr
VP Operations
With more than 40 years of experience in the oil and gas industry, Ben Lehr serves as the Vice President of Operations at Riverstone Resources. His career began on drilling and workover rigs, worked himself up to a Company Man (Wellsite Representative), where he oversaw critical field operations and ensured seamless coordination between operators and service providers.
He advanced in several Oil & gas companies through key leadership roles—including Drilling and Completions Manager, Operations Supervisor, and Director of Operations—where he managed multi-site operations, optimized efficiencies, and drove cost-effective performance across regional and international projects.
Today, as VP of Operations, Ben Lehr leads the company’s operational strategy, guiding multiple departments and ensuring disciplined execution, operational excellence, and long-term growth.