Daniel Energy Partners Names New CEO, Deepens Traditional Energy Focus

HOUSTON, TX – January 08, 2026 – Daniel Energy Partners (DEP), an independent research and strategic events firm, has initiated a significant leadership restructuring aimed at expanding its research platform and reinforcing its commitment to the traditional energy sector. In a key move, Sean Mitchell has been elevated to Chief Executive Officer. Concurrently, firm founder John Daniel will transition to a dedicated role focusing on in-basin research, while industry veteran Jeff Dietert joins the team as Managing Director for Research, heading the Refining and Midstream sectors.

These appointments represent a pivotal moment for the Houston-based firm, signaling a strategic effort to deepen its specialized expertise and solidify its unique market position. The changes come as DEP continues to champion its core mission of connecting institutional investors with corporate leaders through what it calls an “ecosystem where research and relationships merge.”

A New Vision from a Veteran Leader

Sean Mitchell’s promotion to CEO brings a seasoned capital markets and client relations expert to the firm's helm. Before his new role, Mitchell was a Managing Partner at DEP, and his career includes nearly two decades at Simmons & Company International, where he served as a Managing Director and Head of Energy Institutional Sales. In that capacity, he built an extensive network of relationships with major institutional investors and advised public energy company executives on investor relations. His background also includes investment banking and energy loan syndication at Scotia Capital, providing him with a comprehensive understanding of financial modeling and credit analysis across the entire energy value chain.

In his new capacity, Mitchell is positioning DEP for its next phase of growth by building on its established strengths. “Our people have always been the key ingredient to DEP’s industry-leading research and industry outreach – their field level expertise and decades-long relationships intersect to build the DEP Ecosystem,” Mitchell stated. “I am honored to lead this team and excited to see it grow with the addition of quality talent like Jeff.”

Mitchell also reaffirmed the firm’s steadfast dedication to conventional energy sources, a stance that has become a defining characteristic. “We never wavered when others left the business, but rather continued to invest heavily,” he added, noting that the firm anticipates further growth and announcements as the year progresses.

Deepening Expertise in Complex Sectors

The strategic hiring of Jeff Dietert is a direct response to the increasing complexity and importance of the refining and midstream markets. Dietert arrives at DEP with over three decades of high-level experience. Most recently, he was Vice President of Investor Relations at Phillips 66, a role he held from 2017 until late 2025. Before that, he had a distinguished, nearly 20-year tenure at Simmons & Company International, where he was a Managing Director and served as both the Oil Macro & Independent Refining Analyst and Head of Research.

His arrival is particularly timely. The global refining sector is navigating a period of significant pressure, characterized by sluggish demand growth for certain products, tightening margins, and the looming threat of overcapacity from new large-scale refineries in Asia and the Middle East. In the U.S., while Gulf Coast refiners remain resilient, facilities in other regions face potential underutilization. Dietert’s deep analytical background in this specific area provides DEP with the critical expertise needed to guide clients through this challenging landscape.

Simultaneously, the midstream sector is shaped by powerful dynamics, including robust demand for U.S. LNG exports and significant growth in natural gas liquids (NGLs) for petrochemical feedstocks. Investment in the infrastructure connecting production basins to processing hubs and export terminals remains vital. Dietert’s comprehensive experience, which includes a B.S. in Petroleum Engineering and an M.B.A., equips him to provide nuanced insights across these interconnected sectors.

Reinforcing a Differentiated Research Model

While Mitchell directs overall strategy, founder John Daniel’s shift to focus exclusively on “in-basin research” reinforces the very methodology that has long set Daniel Energy Partners apart. This hands-on approach involves direct, on-the-ground engagement with operators and service providers in key energy-producing basins. Through field tours and face-to-face meetings, Daniel gathers proprietary, granular data and firsthand intelligence on operational activity, capacity constraints, and market sentiment that is unavailable through public filings or remote analysis.

By dedicating his full attention to this core competency, Daniel will deepen the firm’s unique value proposition, providing clients with actionable insights grounded in real-world conditions. This focus ensures that while DEP expands its leadership, it does not dilute its foundational strength in field-level intelligence.

“These leadership appointments mark an important milestone for Daniel Energy Partners,” said Daniel. “By strengthening the depth and breadth of our team, DEP is better positioned to deliver on its commitment to provide exceptional value to our clients through incomparable industry knowledge and deep-seeded relationships from the C-suite to the field level.”

A Strengthened Team for a Dynamic Market

With these changes, Daniel Energy Partners is positioning itself to navigate a volatile energy market with a fortified leadership team and a clearer strategic focus. The firm’s competitive edge lies not just in its research reports, but in its ability to foster genuine connections through strategic events and its extensive network. The expanded team now includes a roster of managing directors covering the full energy spectrum, from macro oil and gas to offshore, natural gas, LNG, and power.

This holistic approach, combined with an unapologetic focus on traditional energy, allows the firm to serve a specific but crucial segment of the investment community. As the energy industry continues to face geopolitical uncertainty, supply chain challenges, and policy shifts, the demand for specialized, relationship-driven intelligence is poised to grow. Mitchell’s final remarks underscore this forward-looking posture, as he confirmed the firm will continue its growth and looks forward to making further announcements as the year unfolds.