While Argentine diplomacy remains silent, the oil company Rockhopper Exploration continues its campaign to plunder Argentine oil in the waters surrounding the Malvina Islands. In the last 48 hours, the company has made two strategic moves that strengthen its internal structure: the appointment of a new Director with extensive experience in corporate matters and the direct purchase of more shares by its CEO, Sam Moody .

Richard Slape: The Board's new strategist

On Tuesday, January 20, Rockhopper announced the appointment of Richard Slape as a Non-Executive Director . Slape is not a newcomer; he has over 25 years of experience as an oil and gas analyst and has held senior executive positions at companies such as Kistos Holdings , RockRose Energy , and Lansdowne Oil & Gas .

His appointment is strategic for three reasons:

1.    Experience in Audit and Risk: Slape will assume the presidency of the Audit and Risk Committee in June 2026. In a project under Argentine sanction, his role will be to "manage" the legal and financial risks involved in the illegal operation.

2.    Connections in the Sector: His time at Kistos and RockRose links him to the most aggressive sectors of the British energy market.

3.    Prior Knowledge: According to the firm's president, Simon Thomson, Slape has already collaborated with Rockhopper previously, ensuring immediate integration to accelerate the development of Sea Lion.

Sam Moody raises the stakes

Yesterday, January 21, the oil company reported that its CEO, Sam Moody , personally participated in the "Open Offering" by purchasing 36,744 new shares . With this transaction, Moody now controls more than 4.7 million shares (0.55% of the company).

This move sends a powerful message to the market: the chief operator of the oil takeover is putting his own capital into the project, reinforcing the signal of confidence already given by the Israeli funds Noked, Exodus and ION Fund .

The context of the delivery

These movements occur under the umbrella of impunity provided by successive abandonments of Argentine politics:

A machine in full operation

With the capital secured by the 773% oversubscription announced last week, Rockhopper is now completing its technical and political team. The oil company already has the money, the support of the British government, the approval of the current Argentine administration, and now, a new risk strategist to safeguard the operation.