Mr. Palma joined Suntera as CEO after more than 30 years of a long and distinguished career in the petroleum industry. He was most recently responsible for Eni's entire portfolio of oil and natural gas reserves (7.2 billion boe) and a US$5 billion investment plan. Prior to that post, Mr. Palma led Eni's Western Africa, Middle East & China operations and his career has spanned additional senior posts responsible for operations in Vietnam, Indonesia and Norway, including the negotiation and finalisation of all the upstream and downstream agreement related to the West Libyan gas development. At Suntera, he is leading the development of Suntera's investment and operations in West Africa and other core geographies. Mr. Palma is a Knight Commander of the Papal Order of Saint Gregory the Great and Eze Obuama I of Ogbaland (Nigeria).

Mr. Palma graduated Camerino University in Chemical Engineering. He is a Member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers and a Fellow of the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society.