Leadership
Meet the Board
Reed Leighton
Co-founder & Executive Chair
Reed Leighton is the Co-founder and Executive Chair of Leighton O’Brien.
With a career spanning more than 30 years, Reed is a pioneer and well-known industry leader in the global retail petroleum industry.
Previously the company’s CEO, together with Co-founder Steve O’Brien, Reed has expanded, diversified and transformed the company into a leading international provider of fuel analytics software and technologies for global fuel retail networks, with almost 150 staff servicing customers in 32 countries.
Reed has driven the development and growth of Leighton O’Brien’s world-class technology portfolio, underpinned by an innovative and strategic mindset, strong commercial acumen and exceptional sales, marketing and relationship building skills.
A true innovator, Reed has led the industry and set the benchmark for advanced leak detection software and technologies for environmental compliance and risk reduction for global downstream oil companies.
Reed began his career in Operations at Ansett Australia before moving into Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) for Shell’s Australian retail division. Reed joined with Shell colleague, Steve O’Brien, to establish Leighton O’Brien in 1995.
Reed has a Bachelor of Business (Distinction) from Curtin University of Technology.
View Linkedin ProfileSteve O’Brien
Co-founder & R&D Director
Steve is the co-founder and R&D Director of Leighton O’Brien.
Steve is the industry’s leading expert in wetstock reconciliation analysis, having developed an unparalleled body of intellectual property underpinning Leighton O’Brien’s best-in-class wetstock monitoring software portfolio.
Steve’s data science, analytics and problem-solving capabilities has resulted in the development of unsurpassed benefits in fuel system management, including root cause analysis of fuel loss and leaks, tank gauge accuracy, dispenser performance and delivery verification.
Steve oversees the company’s R&D division including delivering on the company’s extensive product roadmap.
Steve began his career as an engineer at Shell before co-founding Leighton O’Brien in 1995 with colleague Reed Leighton. Together they have successfully built Leighton O’Brien into a leading international provider of fuel analytics software and technologies for global fuel retail networks, with almost 150 staff servicing customers in 32 countries.
Steve has a Bachelor of Engineering (Honors) from Monash University.
View Linkedin ProfileNeil Thomas
Non-Executive Director
With more than 30 years’ experience, Neil is one of the most respected executives in the global energy industry.
He has significant expertise in value creation for global businesses through technology innovation. Neil has successfully led several large M&A transactions and has a strong track record of driving growth and improved profitability through product and technology innovation.
His executive career includes roles as President and CEO of Trojan Battery Company and CEO of Wayne Fueling Systems, a position he held for almost 15 years. During this time he strategically positioned the company as a technology leader focused on retail fueling equipment and services and completed several joint ventures. He successfully led the sale of the business to Dover Corporation in 2016.
As Non-Executive Director, Neil brings immense strategic depth and insights to the Leighton O’Brien Board to deliver on the company’s growth agenda.
Neil holds an MBA from Warwick Business School and a Bachelor of Economics from the University of Wales.
View Linkedin ProfileMichael McDonald
Non-Executive Director
Michael is a corporate, commercial, and intellectual property lawyer who helps entrepreneurs and established businesses position for growth, shelter from risk and structure for longevity.
He is Founder and Managing Partner at mdp Law, a leading commercial advisory, IP and patent law firm, providing commercially driven legal and operational advice to high tech startups, mid-cap companies, private-public joint ventures, and many of Australia’s prominent corporate leaders, institutions and industry bodies.
Michael is Non-Executive Chairman of several boards of high-growth companies and a former Honorary Consul General for the Philippines in Victoria.
Michael brings a critical and objective eye in assisting the executive team to set appropriate company strategy.
Michael has a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Arts from Monash University.
View Linkedin ProfileMorgan Hurwitz
Non-Executive Director
Morgan is a seasoned executive with more than 25 years’ experience building global teams and technology solutions in the oil and gas industry as well as technology and growth companies.
With a deep technical background in all areas of IT as well leadership, governance and strategy, Morgan has a proven track record of implementing technologies to create new capability. He has also led significant transformation programmes that have aligned business goals to the most appropriate technical solution.
Morgan has held numerous executive IT positions including Chief Information Officer of Linfox, the Asia Pacific’s largest privately-owned logistics company, global mining services company Orica and Shell Australia. He is also Non-Executive Director of ASX-listed workplace services company Damstra Technology.
Morgan holds a Bachelor of Arts from Monash University in Melbourne and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He is also a graduate of the Global Business Leadership Programme (IMD) and holds a Diploma of Managing Technology Enterprise also from IMD, Switzerland.
View Linkedin ProfileMeet the Leadership Team
Chris Cooper
Chief Executive Officer
Chris was appointed Chief Executive Officer in February 2022. He was previously Chief Operating Officer and prior to that Global President of the company’s Field Technologies division.
Chris is a proven business leader, with a strong track record of driving profitable revenue growth by identifying key strategic drivers, understanding market shifts, optimally structuring business units, aligning people and fostering a customer-centric culture.
He has deep international experience and industry connections, outstanding strategic, commercial and M&A expertise, a disciplined performance and business process focus, and a high level of professionalism and integrity.
Based in Melbourne, having previously lived in Singapore, India, Dubai and New Zealand, Chris joined Leighton O’Brien after more than 12 years in key strategic planning, sales and management roles including General Manager (Asia) for Dover Fueling Solutions, and senior positions at Gilbarco Veeder-Root, OPW and Liquip International.
Chris has a BSc in Information Technology, an MBA (Distinction) and a Master of International Relations.
View Linkedin ProfileAngela Wisdom
Chief Revenue Officer
Angela is one of the most prominent and respected software sales executives in the downstream petroleum industry. She has diverse senior experience across business development, sales, project, partner and customer management positions for SaaS and technology companies to expand market presence and achieve significant revenue growth.
With solid business acumen and a sharp customer focus, Angela is highly regarded for her ability to identify strategic and tactical customer needs, with a strong track record of driving value added technology solutions. She brings a high level of professionalism, energy, and creative problem-solving abilities to tackle challenges and enable success.
As Chief Revenue Officer for Leighton O’Brien, Angela is responsible for driving revenue growth, global sales management, new product adoption and ensuring maximum return on investment on Leighton O’Brien’s data analytics solutions portfolio for customers.
Prior to joining the company Angela was Senior Director of Sales and Marketing for Insite360, the analytics business unit of Gilbarco Veeder-Root. She has also held senior strategic sales positions at PDI Software and Intellifuel Systems.
View Linkedin ProfileJason Park
Chief Operating Officer
Jason is a rare breed of professional in the downstream petroleum industry, with broad experience across engineering, operational, commercial, OH&S, and licensed partnership disciplines.
Jason has been instrumental in the growth and evolution of Leighton O’Brien’s international and domestic Field Technologies business, including its Energy Services division.
Jason drives the revenue realisation process for all recurring business, is responsible for achieving operational KPIs, oversees continuous improvement processes and provides business and technical support to the broader sales team.
He has held various senior positions during his 12 years at Leighton O’Brien, including head of its global distributor network and Vice President of the company’s North American operations. He has also facilitated divestment testing programs for global customers.
Jason began his career at NHP Electrical Engineering as a Production Engineer before moving to BOC Gas where he oversaw production management projects and a team of production staff.
View Linkedin ProfileSally Locke
Chief Marketing Officer
Sally is an accomplished marketing and communications executive with more than 20 years’ experience developing high-impact strategies and campaigns to drive brand awareness and demand generation for B2B companies to accelerate revenue growth.
As chief marketing officer, Sally is responsible for all facets of marketing activity including strategy and planning, brand positioning, content and digital marketing, product launches, event activation, marketing asset development, advertising, PR, internal communications, channel marketing and reputation management.
She has been pivotal in growing Leighton O’Brien’s global brand profile, supporting the sales team to grow the pipeline and position Leighton O’Brien as a world-leading provider of SaaS and field technologies for the downstream petroleum market.
Prior to joining Leighton O’Brien Sally consulted to the company via her boutique communications agency. She has also led corporate communications teams in mid-tier agencies and worked in external communications for Visa International in the UK.
View Linkedin ProfileTheunis Grobler
Senior Manager - Safety, People and Performance
Theunis is an accomplished Health and Safety executive with more than 12 years’ experience developing, implementing, and driving Work Health and Safety (WHS) and People Culture. He has a highly successful background in the Occupational Health, Safety, Security and Environmental Field, including the implementation of Management Systems, in line with international ISO standards.
As a People, Safety and Performance Sr Manager, Theunis is responsible for planning, leading and directing the policies, activities, and staff to ensure legal compliance. He also manages the implementation of the company’s people performance and talent strategy to position Leighton O’Brien as an employer of choice.
Prior to joining Leighton O’Brien, Theunis held various strategic positions within the Fuel, Mining, Policing and Construction industry, such as SHEQ Advisor at Gilbarco Veeder-Root Australia, HSSE & Quality Manager at Gilbarco South Africa and Safety Superintendent at Anglo American.
View Linkedin ProfileClay Moore
Senior Director of Product
Clay has more than 30 years’ experience in software application programming including 13 years in the downstream petroleum industry. He is highly motivated to provide the best possible solutions that enable customers to scale their business and efficiently manage their fuel operations.
Clay has an extensive background in data analytics, with significant expertise in fuel data software development and problem solving to build elegant solutions to help fuel retailers get the most out of their data.
He is an industry expert of all brands of ATGs involving configuration, programming, polling, gauge calibration and connected applications to fuel inventory and alarms to maximise data insights from customers’ ATG investments.
He works closely with the company’s wetstock and IT teams to drive product strategy, bringing depth and breadth to the company’s product portfolio.
Clay recently joined Leighton O’Brien from Titan Cloud, where he was Director of Product.
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