AKITA Drilling Ltd. appointed Colin Dease as Chief Executive Officer, effective April 3, 2023.  With the Company for over twelve years, Mr. Dease will become the Company's fourth Chief Executive Officer over the last thirty years and succeeds Linda Southern-Heathcott who will continue to serve the Company as Executive Chair. Mr. Dease gained practical experience growing up on a family farm in Saskatchewan before beginning his professional career as a lawyer in 2002, where he worked at two different law firms prior to joining AKITA. During his twelve-year career at AKITA, he served as Legal Counsel, Corporate Secretary, Vice-President of Canadian Operations, Canadian Division President, and President and Chief Operating Officer.

Mr. Dease currently serves as Chairman of the Board of the Canadian Association of Energy Contractors and received his ICD.D designation in 2022 from the Institute of Corporate Directors.