Keith Head knows energy deals from beginning to end. As an executive responsible for corporate business development, he’s been on the front end of deals identifying and valuing potential acquisitions. In his legal positions, he’s been on the back end of other deals, handling the legal documents and negotiations involved in acquisitions initiated by business managers.

As vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary for Harvest Natural Resources Inc. in Houston, Head brings that combined expertise to a company that has expanded its exploration and production activities in West Africa, Indonesia, China and Oman since he joined it in 2007. Harvest Natural reported revenue of $206.2 million in 2011, growing to $216.8 million in revenues for the first three quarters of 2012.