John de Wardt is President of DE WARDT AND COMPANY INC.. and Managing Director of World Class Projects, firms he founded to assist companies to increase their profitability through improving business processes. DE WARDT AND COMPANY INC. specializes in developing strategies using scenario planning techniques, applying Lean Manufacturing techniques and improving project performance.

Mr. de Wardt graduated from the University of Newcastle in England with an Honors degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1976; he specialized in industrial processes and business management. During this period, he completed the Institute of Mechanical Engineers industrial experience program with Imperial Chemical Industries, a leading UK petrochemical company.

From 1976 to 1991 Mr. de Wardt worked in various engineering and contracts management positions for Shell International throughout the world. In 1990 he published the first in a series of papers discussing "Contracts in the 90’s".

In 1991, he became Deputy Managing Director of Forasol / Foramer - an international drilling contractor based in Paris, France. In this position, Mr. de Wardt directed numerous successful projects applying the new business methods and practices he had developed.

In 1993, Mr. de Wardt led the Well Construction and Well Management Strategy Development Team for Halliburton and Brown & Root in Houston, USA, sponsored by the Vice Chairman. This work contributed to the integration of the two companies’ energy services organizations and deployment of a strategy that helped redefine the industry.

Since 1994, Mr. de Wardt has successfully implemented his proprietary programs with exceptional results. He is a recognized expert in Lean Manufacturing, organization development and strategic planning as well as being an accomplished facilitator. He has analyzed market trends and assisted with strategy development for numerous clients from oil companies to construction contractors in the highly competitive power generation and water / waste water markets. These clients have increased their market share, revenues and profitability. He developed and facilitated proprietary workshops for many clients that have resulted in world-class results on projects around the world.

In 2008, Mr. de Wardt was retained for a 3 month assignment as the Acting COO of a manufacturing facility for an international growth manufacturing business in the FSU.

John de Wardt has lived and worked in France, Malaysia, Netherlands, Thailand, the UK, and the USA.
    He has also worked assignments in Angola, Argentina, Austria, Canada, China, Gabon, Germany, Myanmar (Burma), Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Singapore, UAE, Ukraine, Venezuela, Yemen.

John de Wardt was featured in Alexander Haig’s World Business Review television program. John de Wardt was moderator for the 1994 IADC/SPE Drilling Conference panel session titled "Impact of Drilling Operations on Well Life Cycle Cost Reduction" held in Dallas, USA; the 1995 SPE/IADC Drilling Conference panel session titled "Vision 2020 - Preparing for the Next Twenty Five Years" held in Amsterdam, the Netherlands; the 1996 SPE / IADC Asia Pacific Drilling Conference panel session titled "Alliance and Partnering: Defining the Terms/Methods/Results" in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and the 1999 SPE / IADC Middle East Drilling Conference panel session titled "Integration – the Key to Reducing Drilling and Production Costs".
He lead a Middle East workshop titled "Introducing Practical Techniques for Implementing A Successful Partnership" for The Institute For International Research as well as a Houston conference on "Alliancing in Oil and Gas" for the International Quality and Productivity Corporation.
He was a 1995/96 Society of Petroleum Engineers Distinguished Lecturer.