Leaders at the Bell with Felipe Bayon, CEO at GEOPark, Oct 21, 2025

Felipe Bayon, who became CEO of GEOPark in June 2025, outlined the company's dual strategic approach during an investor day at the New York Stock Exchange. The first pillar focuses on protecting existing assets through safe, reliable, and profitable operations. The second emphasizes returning to growth, exemplified by GEOPark's rapid acquisition of two blocks in Argentina's Vaca Muerta formation. The company plans to scale production from 2,000 to 20,000 barrels per day over the next three years in Argentina, capitalizing on what Bayon identified as one of the world's premier unconventional resource plays alongside the U.S. Permian Basin. He noted that Argentina's unconventional production reached over 566,000 barrels of oil daily in September, signaling the country has regained control of its hydrocarbon destiny.

Addressing concerns about oil price volatility, Bayon emphasized GEOPark's disciplined capital allocation and robust risk management. The company has hedged 90 percent of its 2025 production and 63 percent of 2026 output, securing a $65 per barrel floor regardless of market conditions. In Colombia, where GEOPark maintains significant operations, the company is investing $120 million in capital expenditures to maintain flat production and reduce decline rates. Bayon expressed hope for a political shift in Colombia that would reopen exploration opportunities, allowing responsible development of the country's hydrocarbon resources for the benefit of its people.