EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

Executive Employment Agreement among Gran Tierra Argentina S.A. (“ GTASA ”), an Argentine company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gran Tierra (defined below), Gran Tierra Energy Inc. , a Nevada corporation (“ Gran Tierra ”) and Rafael Orunesu (hereinafter called the “ Executive ”, collectively with GTASA and Gran Tierra, the “ Parties ”). GTSASA and Gran Tierra are sometimes referred to herein as the “ Company .”

A.   The Executive has specialized knowledge and valuable skills and experience which are critical to the management and success of the business.

B.   GTASA and Gran Tierra wish to secure the services of the Executive and to ensure that the Executive remains President of GTASA

C.   The Executive is currently an employee of GTASA pursuant to an employment agreement between the Executive and GTASA dated March 1, 2005, as amended (the “ Prior   Agreement ”).

D.   The Parties wish to set forth their entire understanding and agreement with respect to the subject matter hereof and replace the Prior Agreement in its entirety with this Executive Employment Agreement (the “ Agreement ”).

Therefore , the Parties agree as follows:

GTASA confirms the appointment of the Executive to the position of President of GTASA. The Executive shall perform the duties and responsibilities as well as those duties reasonably assigned to the Executive by the Board of Directors of Gran Tierra (the “ Board ”). The parties agree that the relationship between GTASA and the Executive created by this Agreement is that of employer and employee.

The Executive shall not engage in any other business, profession or occupation which would conflict with the performance of his duties and responsibilities under this Agreement, either directly or indirectly, including accepting appointments to the boards of other companies without the prior written consent of the Board.

The Executive shall not be reassigned to another position within GTASA itself, or to a position within another subsidiary or Gran Tierra, or other affiliated or related corporate entity (a “ Member Company ” or “ Member Companies ”) or alter the duties, responsibilities, title, or reporting lines of the Executive or change the location of the Executive’s employment unless the Executive agrees to such reassignment or alteration.

The Executive shall be available for such business related travel as may be required for the purposes of carrying out the Executive’s duties and responsibilities. The Executive shall be entitled to fly business class only for international flights and shall use economy for domestic travel. The Executive will be entitled to choose suitable accommodations when traveling on GTASA or Gran Tierra business.

The Executive’s employment with GTASA is for no specified duration and constitutes at-will employment. The Executive’s employment may be terminated at any time by either GTASA or Executive, subject to the provisions of Article 9.

The Executive will be paid an annual salary in an amount determined by the Board, subject to applicable statutory deductions (the “ Base Salary ”). The Executive’s Base Salary will be payable in accordance with GTASA practices and procedures as they may exist from time to time. Base Salary will be reviewed and may be increased on an annual basis by the Board, with input from the Executive.

The Executive shall be eligible to receive an annual bonus payment in addition to Base Salary and other compensation for each year of the Executive’s employment (the “ Bonus ”) as determined by the Board from time to time.

The Bonus shall be payable within sixty (60) days of the end of the fiscal year, and will be based upon the Executive’s performance during the preceding year.

The Executive shall be entitled to participate in and to receive all rights and benefits under any life insurance, disability, medical, dental, health and accident plans maintained by Gran Tierra for GTASA employees and for its executives. GTASA will continue to pay the Executive’s Base Salary in the event the Executive becomes disabled until such time as the Executive begins to receive long-term disability insurance benefits.

The Executive will be entitled to five weeks vacation per year. Payment of all vacation pay will be at Base Salary. The Executive will arrange vacation time to suit the essential business needs of GTASA and Gran Tierra. Unused vacation entitlement will be carried over into the following calendar year to a maximum entitlement of eight weeks in any one year. On leaving the employment of GTASA for whatever reason, GTASA will compensate the Executive for any accrued but unused vacation entitlement based upon the Executive’s then current Base Salary.

Gran Tierra will provide the Executive with the right to participate in stock option plans and/or incentive award plans maintained by Gran Tierra and approved by the Board.

GTASA recognizes that the Executive will incur expenses in the performance of the Executive’s duties. GTASA shall reimburse the Executive for any reasonable out of pocket expenses incurred in the course of employment.

This Agreement and the Executive’s employment with GTASA may be terminated, without GTASA being obligated to provide the Executive with advance notice of termination or pay in lieu of such notice, whether under contract, statute, common law or otherwise, in the following circumstances:

In the event the Executive voluntarily resigns, except where the Executive resigns for Good Reason as provided for in this Agreement, the Executive will give a minimum of ninety (90) days’ advance written notice to GTASA and Gran Tierra. The Executive will not be entitled to receive any further compensation or benefits whatsoever other than those which have accrued up to the Executive’s last day of active service with GTASA. GTASA may, at its discretion, waive in whole or in part such notice with payment in lieu to the Executive;

 "Cause" is defined as any of the following:

(a) conviction of, or plea of nolo contendere to, a felony;

(b) participation in a fraud against the Company;

(c) participation in an act of dishonesty against the Company intended to result in your personal enrichment;

(d) willful material breach of the Company's written policies;

(e) intentional significant damage to the Company's property by you;

(f) material breach of this Agreement; or

(g) conduct by you that, in the good faith and reasonable determination of the Board, demonstrates gross unfitness to serve provided that in such event, the Company shall provide notice to you describing the nature of the gross unfitness and you shall thereafter have ten (10) days to cure such gross unfitness if such gross unfitness is capable of being cured.

The Partnership may not terminate your employment for Cause unless and until you receive a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the Board of Directors of Gran Tierra (the " Board ") finding that in the good faith opinion of the Board, that "Cause" exists and specifying the particulars thereof in reasonable detail.

GTASA may terminate the Executive’s employment without Cause at any time by providing the Executive with a separation package (the “ Separation Package ”) equal to one years’ Total Cash Compensation.

“Total Cash Compensation” is defined as the annualized amount of Base Salary plus Bonus Payment for the prior 12-month period.

The Separation Package shall be payable in a lump sum within thirty (30) days of termination.

Should the Executive terminate his employment for Good Reason, as hereinafter defined, he shall receive the Separation Package set out in section 9.2. Failure of the Executive to terminate his employment on the occurrence of any event which would constitute Good Reason shall not constitute waiver of his right under this section 9.3. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive may terminate his employment for Good Reason so long as Executive tenders hi