Russell Bennett is a Managing Director and Head of Oil & Gas at Starwood Capital Group, with responsibility for leading the Firm’s expansion into the oil & gas sector. In November 2013, Mr. Bennett closed Starwood Capital’s first investment in the industry—a $35 million investment in Northeast Natural Energy. In June 2015, Mr. Bennett led a $110 million investment in EagleRidge Energy and a $20 million follow-on investment in June 2017. In January 2017, Mr. Bennett led a $65 million equity commitment in Ventana Exploration & Production and a $70 million follow-on equity commitment in February 2019.
Prior to joining Starwood Capital in 2013, Mr. Bennett worked as an investment professional at Metalmark from 2004 to 2013 and played an active role in 15 investments, including portfolio add-on acquisitions. Mr. Bennett has served as a member of Northeast Natural Energy’s Board of Directors from 2010 to present, Chairman of EagleRidge Energy since June 2015 and a member of Ventana Exploration & Production’s Board of Directors from January 2017 to present. He began his career in the leverage finance and private equity coverage groups at JPMorgan.
Mr. Bennett received a B.S. degree in economics from Northwestern University.