Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS at EPCA 2024

Julian Ahlers Director, Acetyls Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Julian Ahlers is the Director of Acetyls at Chemical Market Analytics.

Julian Ahlers is the director of acetyls at Chemical Market Analytics. He is based in Hamburg. His current focus is the acetyls industry in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Indian Subcontinent. His responsibilities include the weekly and monthly Global Acetyls Market Reports and primary input and support for the World Acetyls Analysis.

Before joining the IHS Markit base chemicals business (now known as Chemical Market Analytics) in July 2017, Mr. Ahlers had a six-year career with Helm AG in Hamburg. At Helm, he served as a product manager responsible for global acetic acid. Mr. Ahlers is a wholesale and foreign trade economist with a Bachelor of Business Administration.

Mino Angelilli Commercial Director, Circular Plastics Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Carlo Barrasa Vice President, Energy Insights Team Lead Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Carlo Barrasa is the Vice President of Energy Insights at Chemical Market Analytics

In this role, Carlo stewards the development of energy market content to help Chemical Market Analytics’ clients navigate the complexities of the oil, gas & natural gas liquids markets. Previously, Carlo led the North American Light Olefins service, which provides clients with valuable insights into the regional market dynamics of cracker feedstocks, ethylene, and propylene.

Before joining Chemical Market Analytics, Carlo was a Senior Strategy Advisor at Anadarko Petroleum, where he was responsible for guiding the company’s market strategy for its natural gas liquids business. After beginning his career in various downstream and chemical roles with ExxonMobil, Carlo held senior consulting and research positions at IHS Markit legacy companies PFC Energy and CMAI.

Prem Chitkara Executive Director, Polyester Fibers, Glycols & EO Derivatives Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Prem is the Executive Director of Polyester Fibers, Glycols & EO Derivatives for the European, Middle-East, and African markets.

Prem Chitkara is the executive director for polyester fibers, glycols & EO derivatives in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA region) at Chemical Market Analytics. With over 30 years of experience, Prem is a key resource within the business for understanding and insight into polyester fibers, glycols and ethylene oxide (EO) derivatives.

He works closely within the EMEA region with various stakeholders, including manufacturers & buyers, convertors, end consumers and financial industries, bringing support and guidance through the polyester and EO chains. His current area of focus includes oversight of the ‘Global Polyester Fibers and Feedstocks’ reports as well as primary input and insight for the ‘Market Advisory – Global Ethylene Oxide, Glycols and EO Derivatives,’ ‘World Analysis- Polyesters’ and ‘World Analysis- Ethylene Oxide and Monoethylene Glycol (MEG).’

Prem has rich and diverse industry experience globally in manufacturing, technical, expansion projects, sales & marketing, and business development, supporting him in his current role. Before joining the consulting business in 2017, Prem worked with Reliance Industries Limited for 23 years at different locations in India and Germany, where he was responsible for developing Reliance’s Polyester business in the EMEA region.

He holds a degree in Textile Engineering and earned an MBA. He has completed an Executive Management Development program at the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, India, and a Business Sustainability Management program at Cambridge University in the UK.

Duncan Clark Vice President, Global Aromatics & Fibers Team Lead Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Duncan Clark is the Vice President of the Global Aromatics and Fibers business at Chemical Market Analytics.

Duncan Clark is the vice president of Global Aromatics and Derivatives, based in Chemical Market Analytics’ London office. Duncan joined the company in 2013 as the EMEA Aromatics Director, taking over the global Aromatics team leadership in 2017. Duncan has 40 years of experience working in the global petrochemical and chemical industries in various Sales, Marketing, Corporate Business Development, Business Management and Consultancy roles.

Duncan maintains a view of global developments in all major aromatics markets and works closely with petrochemical producers, consumers and financial institutions worldwide, providing insight and future expectations. He has specific expertise in the polyester feedstocks markets. He is a regular speaker at Chemical Market Analytics’ regional conferences. He leads a global team of Aromatics consultants and analysts. He is responsible for the commercial strategy and client support for a broad portfolio of Aromatics services focused on individual aromatics value chains. He also regularly forms part of the project team for Chemical Market Analytics’ single client studies.

Before this, Duncan spent ten years working in an ExxonMobil / Shell joint venture company involved in fuel and lubricant additives and visited refineries worldwide. He also spent 12 years working for Air Products in various chemical and industrial gas businesses in the UK, U.S., and Netherlands. He now provides insights into the global aromatics and derivative markets, including paraxylene, purified terephthalic acid, ethylene glycols, polyurethane feedstocks, and the global benzene, toluene, and xylenes markets.

Mr. Clark has a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from University College London and a Master of Business Administration from Manchester Business School.

Steven English Executive Director Aromatics and Polyurethanes, EMEA Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Prem is the Executive Director of Polyester Fibers, Glycols & EO Derivatives for the European, Middle-East, and African markets.

Steven English is an Executive Director of aromatics in Europe, the Middle East and Africa at Chemical Market Analytics. Steven has worked primarily in the aromatics and polyurethanes arena while at the company. With over 30 years of experience, Steven has a wide range of experience within the chemical industry globally and has worked as a consultant to the industry before joining Chemical Market Analytics just over two years ago.

Steven looks after the cumene, phenol and acetone chain in the EMEA region. He works closely with all producers and end users in the value chain, focusing on pricing, supply, capacity changes, imports and exports to give a complete picture of the business. He also looks after MDI and TDI in the region, where his wealth of knowledge and keen observations bring insights into the polyurethanes industry. Additionally, Steven is the global service lead for our polyurethane activities.

With a wide range of experiences in the chemical industry throughout the world, he is recognized as a global expert in polyurethanes, having led a global producer. He has also worked as a consultant to the chemical industry for many years, assisting with new chemical plant developments. He has an excellent understanding of the phenolics chain and its derivatives and has worked with many end products in his previous roles.

Mr. English has a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne.

Angel Fernandez Director, Chlor-Alkali Research EMEA Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Angel Fernandez is the Director of EMEA Chlor-alkali Research at Chemical Market Analytics

Angel Fernandez is the Director of EMEA Chlor-alkali Research at Chemical Market Analytics. Angel joined the Chemical Market Analytics team through the legacy IHS Markit Base chemicals team in 2021. During his time with the company, he has held various roles in the Inorganics value chain, including potassium hydroxide research and analysis and Global Service Leader for bleaching chemicals.

Angel leads the EMEA chlor-alkali team and provides market coverage for European caustic soda in the Global Chlor-alkali Report and Chlor-alkali World Analysis. He works closely with clients in all regions to provide support and guidance on chlor-alkali chemicals.

Angel has over 20 years of experience in trading, shipping, market research and analysis of the chemical industry. He started his career at BP Chemicals, followed by five years at Sojitz UK, where he was involved in the trading and shipping of aromatics, methanol and solvents. Before joining the IHS Markit Base Chemicals business (now known as Chemical Market Analytics), he spent ten years researching and analyzing oxo alcohols, plasticizers and chlor-alkali markets at a market data provider.

Angel holds Master’s degrees in Chemistry and International Relations. He is based out of the London office.

Bill Hyde Vice President, Olefins and Elastomers Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Bill Hyde is the Vice President of Olefins & Elastomers at Chemical Market Analytics.

Mr. Hyde is a member of Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS, A Dow Jones Company. He leads a group that analyzes markets related to C4 Olefins, synthetic and natural rubber, and tire raw materials. He has been consulting in this market since 2002.

Hyde began his career with the Union Carbide Corporation in 1990, where he had various positions, including production engineering, optimization, planning, and logistics. In 2000, he joined Texas Petrochemicals as a Business Analyst.

In 2002, Hyde joined CMAI, which was acquired by IHS in 2011, in the Olefins Consulting Practice, focusing on C4 Olefins and rubber, assuming responsibility for that practice in 2006. The Base Chemicals Group of HIS Markit, which includes the C4 Olefins and Elastomers Practice, was divested to News Corp in June 2022 and became Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS, A Dow Jones Company. He has published several papers on the Olefins and Elastomers industries and presented at numerous Olefins and Elastomers Conferences worldwide.

Hyde has BSc and MSc Degrees in Chemical Engineering from Brigham Young University and an M.B.A. from Tulane University.

Dewey Johnson Senior Vice President, Global Head of Chemical Market Analytics Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Dewey Johnson is Senior Vice President & Global Lead of Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS, a Dow Jones Company (“Chemical Market Analytics”).

IHS Markit Global LLC (“IHS Markit”) was acquired by S&P Global in February 2022. As part of the merger, IHS Markit Base Chemicals was spun off and separately acquired by Dow Jones and renamed “Chemical Market Analytics” in June 2022.
Dewey is responsible for the global business, including insight and research covering the major chemical value chains, including Aromatics and Fibers, Olefins and Derivatives, Inorganics (chlor-alkali, vinyls, and soda ash), Plastics and Polymers, and Syngas Chemicals (methanol, acetyls, and ammonia). Dewey is based in Houston.

Prior to Chemical Market Analytics, Dewey joined IHS Markit (through legacy CMAI) in 2009. His experience in the petrochemical industry covers all aspects of the business- financial, commercial, operations, research, strategy design and business planning, business development, and consultancy. Before IHS Markit, he was with Eastman Chemical Company, where he spent more than 25 years in strategic and commercial roles with various business groups and corporate functions. Dewey held management positions in commercial development, global sourcing, P&L for key businesses, market development, and market & strategic analysis of chemical markets and businesses. Dewey has led multiple complex engagements in strategy development and execution, global sourcing of Aromatics & olefins derivatives and industrial gases, business simulation & game theory and dynamic modeling, sales/ marketing, and business development. Dewey received BS and MS engineering degrees from Tennessee Technological University and Virginia Polytechnic Institute. He also earned an MBA in General Management. Dewey has been a frequent guest lecturer at MIT Sloan School of Management, UVA Darden School of Management, and SUNY at Albany School of Public Policy.

Remko Koster Executive Director, EMEA C4 Olefins Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Remko Koster is the Executive Director for C4 olefins and derivatives in Europe, the Middle East and Africa at Chemical Market Analytics..

During his time with the company, he has taken various roles across a broad range of product areas. With over 20 years of experience, Remko is a key resource within the business for understanding and insight into the C4 and derivatives sector of the petrochemical industry.

Within the EMEA region, he works closely with the petrochemical, oil and tire industries, bringing support and guidance throughout the petrochemical chain. His current area of focus includes oversight of the ‘Global Tire Type Indices Report’, primary input and insight for the ‘Global C4 Olefins & Elastomers Report’, as well as for the World Butadiene, MTBE, Rubber, and Butylenes analyses.

His prior experience includes more than ten years of industrial experience with SABIC, including commercial responsibilities for C4 streams and aromatics and as a global market intelligence leader for polypropylene. Remko joined our company in 2011 as a polyethylene and polypropylene consultant for EMEA, contributing to the ‘Global Plastics & Polymers Report service’ and for World Polyethylene and Polypropylene Analysis.

Remko Koster has a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Nick Kovics Vice President, Global Inorganic Chemicals Team Lead Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Nick Kovics is the Vice President of the Global Inorganics team at Chemical Market Analytics.

Nick Kovics serves as the Vice President of Global Inorganic Chemicals at Chemical Market Analytics, which includes Chlor-alkali chemicals, Vinyls, Bleaching Chemicals, and Soda Ash.

Nick brings over 25 years of chemical industry experience to the Chemical Market Analytics Inorganic Chemicals insights team. He was promoted to his current role in 2024, where he leads twenty analysts who research, forecast, and report on chlor-alkali chemicals, vinyls, bleaching chemicals, and soda ash from five global locations. Previously, Nick held a variety of roles in the Inorganics value chain at Chemical Market Analytics, including leading the Chlor-alkali, Bleaching Chemicals, and Battery Materials advisory services.

Nick held various functional roles in several companies before joining Chemical Market Analytics. He began his career as a process engineer in the chlor-alkali sector at Canadian Occidental. Nick next moved into the energy sector as a field engineer with Schlumberger Canada cementing and hydraulic fracturing services. He transitioned from oil and gas to new energy and spent a decade in the hydrogen fuel cell sector in technical, commercial and financial roles. Nick continued in the electrochemical industry by joining Canexus (now Chemtrade) and held commercial leadership roles in chlor-alkali and sodium chlorate marketing.

Nick is originally from Canada and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of British Columbia and an MBA from Simon Fraser University. He is a registered Canadian Professional Engineer and a Canadian Chartered Professional Accountant. He has resided in Houston, TX, since joining Chemical Market Analytics in 2017.

Brian Lee Executive Director, Asia Benzene & Styrene Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Brian Lee is the Executive Director for Asia Benzene & Styrene at Chemical Market Analytics.

Brian Lee is the research and analysis executive director responsible for the Asian market report of Chemical Market Analytics, focusing on the market analysis of benzene and styrene. He also contributes to various market advisory publications and supports consulting activities. Brian has a distinguished career spanning almost 30 years in the petrochemical industry.

Previously, he worked with Argus Dewitt for three years as a vice president covering Asian Aromatics. He contributed to numerous market reports and single client studies and hosted the Asian conference, including speaking. Mr. Lee started his career with Samsung C&T Corporation, working for 16 years in Asia and Europe. He was responsible for trading and marketing benzene, toluene, xylenes (BTX), styrene, paraxylene (PX), and purified terephthalic acid (PTA) to global customers.

Mr. Lee holds an MBA from Hanyang Cyber University and a Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering from Hanyang University, South Korea.

Steve Lewandowski Vice President, Global Olefins & Derivatives Team Lead Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Mr. Lewandowski is the Vice President of Global Olefins & Derivatives at Chemical Market Analytics.

Based in Houston, Steve Lewandowski is the Vice President – Olefins at Chemical Market Analytics (CMA) by OPIS, a Dow Jones Company, a leading global provider of information, insight and consulting services to the global chemical and petrochemical.

During a career spanning 30 + years in the refining and chemical industry, Steve has experience across the spectrum of refining and petrochemical hydrocarbon value chains covering various financial, strategic, technical and commercial roles. Before his move to Chemical Market Analytics, Steve was Senior Manager of Base Chemicals at TOTAL Petrochemicals & Refining, Inc. In that capacity, he managed the P&L of the base chemicals business, including joint venture relationships, strategic guidance to the partnerships, plant operational interfaces, project development, and commercial responsibility for olefin and aromatic monomers, including styrene.

Before the Base Chemical Senior Manager role, Steve had increasing responsibilities within the Petrochemical business at TOTAL. The latest assignment was overseas, in Brussels, Belgium, where he was responsible for the Global Aromatics long-term commercial business activity. The assignment included P&L responsibility and strategic project development for TOTAL worldwide. Before the Belgian assignment, he worked as manager of the US aromatics business. Before 2000, Steve was involved in the refining and fuels side of the Hydrocarbon chain both for what was then FINA Oil and Chemical and for Star Enterprise (a joint venture between Texaco and Saudi Aramco), working as a process engineer, optimization engineer, fuels blending optimizer, branded/unbranded fuels marketing and supply lead, and in a business development role.

Steve earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Michigan State University in 1987 and an MBA with a focus on finance and economics from the University of Texas at Dallas in 2000.

Kevin Longworth Executive Director, Global Acrylonitrile Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Kevin Longworth is the Executive Director for Global Acrylonitrile at Chemical Market Analytics.

Kevin Longworth is the executive director of the Global Acrylonitrile service and started his career at Chemical Market Analytics in 2009. During his time at the company, he has worked across various chemical value streams, giving him extensive exposure to a broad cross-section of the petrochemical industry. Before joining Chemical Market Analytics, he worked for nearly a decade as a process engineer in the plastics industry in South Africa and the United Kingdom.

Mr. Longworth leads the Global Acrylonitrile service, providing industry players with strategic intelligence and analysis for companies in this highly varied and complex value chain. Through regular engagement with industry stakeholders such as producers, downstream consumers, traders, distributors and investors, he helps them gain a deeper understanding of this volatile industry. The role is global, and he regularly contacts companies in Europe, the Americas, Southeast Asia and Northeast Asia.

Prior to taking over his current role, he had several other roles within Chemical Market Analytics, the most recent of which was as Director for Polyolefins for the EMEA region. In this role, he was responsible for developing intellectual property for the plastics service in Europe. He was a leading expert in this field, presenting at conferences and acting as the client-facing consultant of the Global Plastics service for Chemical Market Analytics in the EMEA region.

Mr. Longworth has a degree in Plastics Processing Technology from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology in Cape Town, South Africa.

Kaushik Mitra Executive Director, Europe Plastics & Polymers Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Kaushik Mitra is the Executive Director of Polyolefin for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa at Chemical Market Analytics.

Kaushik Mitra is the Executive Director of Polyolefin for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. He steers the Polyolefin Insight and Research practice for Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS, A Dow Jones Company. Kaushik is a key resource within the business for understanding and insight into the olefins sector of the petrochemical industry. He was pivotal in conceptualizing, developing and executing the Chemical Market Analytics’ Circular Plastics studies.

Within the EMEA region, Kaushik works closely with the value chain comprising Polymer producers, Brand owners, Converters, Distributors, & Resellers, providing support and guidance throughout the Polyolefins value chain. Kaushik’s current area of focus includes the European Plastics & Polymers Report, providing critical IP for EMEA and input and insight for the World Polyethylene Analyses.

Kaushik gained diverse career experience working at top Global companies, steering business management, market development, market intelligence and strategy functions in leadership roles. His interests are in pricing, strategy and market intelligence. He joined Chemical Market Analytics in 2016 with over 26 years of experience in petrochemicals. Previously, with petrochemicals giant SABIC, Kaushik led the global business strategy team for the polymers business, shaping long-term ambitions regarding growth, business improvement, innovation and pricing. Kaushik was instrumental in designing and executing growth and differentiation strategies and played a key role in M&A and benchmarking.

Kaushik holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering from the Indian Institute of Engineering Science & Technology and an MBA in marketing from the Indian Institute of Management.

Mike Nash Vice President, Global Syngas Team Lead | Americas Acetyls Lead Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Mr. Mike Nash is the Vice President for Syngas Chemicals (including the methanol and acetyls practices) at Chemical Market Analytics.

He works with a global team of regional consultants and overlays their analyses with a global perspective. His responsibilities include the weekly World Methanol Report and monthly World Methanol Analysis, including the weekly and monthly Global Acetyls Market Reports and the related World Analyses for Methanol, Acetyls, and Formaldehyde.

Before joining the IHS Markit base chemicals business (now known as Chemical Market Analytics) in September 2012, Mr. Nash worked for BP’s petrochemicals division for 19 years preceding a two-year stint in Total’s UK fuels business. He performed various commercial roles within BP, in international business management, marketing, project management, and logistics, based in London, Duesseldorf, and Kuala Lumpur. His last role in the Total UK was the Logistics Director for Specialties.

Mr. Nash holds a Master of Arts in English Language and Literature from Edinburgh University, UK, and a Master of Business Administration from Kingston University, UK.

Brian Newsome Vice President of the Global Chlor-alkali Advisory Service Chemical Market Analytics

Brian Newsome is the Vice President of the Global Chlor-alkali advisory service at Chemical Market Analytics (CMA), joining in July 2024. Prior to joining CMA, Brian served in several roles at Westlake Corporation, including as Director of Strategy, Business Manager for Chlorine and Chlorine Derivatives, and Market Manager for Calcium Hypochlorite. He has also previously worked in commercial and technical roles for Kureha Corporation (Japan), Motorola Semiconductor and ExxonMobil LNG. Brian has over 17 years of chemical industry experience including over 13 years of global chlor-alkali and vinyl’s industries experience in marketing, sales and business line management roles. He received a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin as well as a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor.

David Onyekpe Sr. Research Analyst Global Olefins Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

David Onyekpe is a Senior research analyst in the Global Olefins group at Chemical Market Analytics. He is responsible for coverage of the acrylonitrile value chain and cotton. 

Mr. Onyekpe has been with Chemical Market Analytics since 2016, where he has provided business information assisting clients in diverse projects. Prior to joining Chemical Market Analytics, David worked at the World Energy Council, where he assessed the impact of policies, in addition to opportunities and limitations that underpin some cross-cutting technologies within the energy Industry. He holds a Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering from University College London.

David Potter Vice President Aromatics and Fibers, EMEA Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

David Potter is Vice President of Aromatics and Fibers, EMEA, at Chemical Market Analytics.

David joined the Chemical Market Analytics team in January 2013 and is Vice President for the EMEA team, with product responsibility for pygas and benzene. David has expertise across several markets within the aromatics and fibers sector, including styrene monomers, phenolics, polyurethane feedstocks and ethylene oxide and derivatives. Between 2016-2018, David had global responsibility for Chemical Market Analytics daily pricing and market update reports for aromatics and light olefins.

David joined the Chemical Market Analytics team from Platts, where he was an editor in the petrochemicals team responsible for price discovery, assessment, and editorial content on various petrochemical markets. However, David mainly focused on aromatics, where he was responsible for the benzene market coverage for over five years.

Before his time at Platts, David worked for Petrochem Carless (now Haltermann Carless) for eight years between 1999-2007. He undertook many commercial roles here, including product management and customer service manager. He was responsible for buying and selling many different aliphatic and aromatic products, ketone solvents, antifreeze and glycols, plus undertaking many roles around road, rail and shipping logistics.

David has a Bachelor of Arts in Media and a postgraduate diploma in Periodical Journalism.

Ashish Pujari Vice President, Asia Aromatics & Fibers Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Ashish Pujari is the Vice President of Aromatics and Fibres at Chemical Market Analytics in Singapore.

Ashish Pujari is the Vice President for Aromatics and Fibers in Asia. He has over 30 years of experience in the petrochemical industry, mainly focused on the polyester and raw material value chain, which stretches from project design, operations, sales & marketing and business development. Over the past 15 years, he has focused on market research and consulting for the polyester and raw material industry. He is responsible for providing thought leadership to the sector and guiding our long-term forecasts.

Ashish works with the Asian petrochemicals industry and coordinates support across the value chains. His current products of focus are Paraxylene, terephthalic acid (PTA) and Polyester, covering the regional dynamics and guiding the global outlook. He also actively continues to focus on sustainability developments in the polyester sector. Ashish has also been instrumental in launching several reports, including the pricing reports for Aromatics in Asia and the Global Polyurethanes & Feedstock report.

Ashish joined CMAI in 2009, with a responsibility to cover the Asian PX and polyester markets and has taken additional responsibilities through our transition to Chemical Market Analytics. Before joining CMAI, Ashish worked for Reliance Industries Ltd. (RIL) in India and was leading the M&A activity in the polyester sector at the time of his exit in 2009. Ashish joined RIL as a fresh engineer in 1994 in the project design and construction group and later progressed to operations. He also worked in sales & business development, becoming the North India regional sales lead for raw materials.

Ashish holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Polymers & Chemical) from the University of Pune, India, as well as an Executive Management diploma from the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore.

Carl Roache Director, Ammonia and Urea Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Carl Roache is the Executive Director of Ammonia and Urea at Chemical Market Analytics.

Carl Roache is the market director of ammonia and urea at Chemical Market Analytics (CMA). He joined the company in 2024 and leads analysis and pricing globally from London, UK.

Before joining CMA, Mr. Roache was EuroChem’s global business development manager for NPK fertilizers, based in Dubai, UAE. From here, he coordinated global NP/NPK sales from the company’s 1.2mn t/yr Antwerp plant. Before this, he was EuroChem’s Asia NPK business development lead, based in Singapore, where he developed and executed an NPK growth strategy, widening commercial territory and facilitating increased sales.

Mr Roache has also worked for price reporting agencies within the fertilizer sector in the UK and Asia, including spells as global nitrogen and potash lead (ICIS) and Europe and Asia regional editorships (Argus Media). He has completed executive strategy, financial analysis, and management training, as well as a first-class honors degree in American and English History from the University of East Anglia, UK.

Mr Roache is an NCTJ/NCE qualified newspaper journalist, starting his career with Northcliffe Media group in the UK.

Tobias Spyra Director, EMEA Styrenics & Polyurethane Feedstocks Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Tobias Spyra is the Director for EMEA Styrenics & Polyurethane Feedstocks at Chemical Market Analytics.

Mr. Spyra joined the European aromatics and fibers team in 2016 and his current role in Chemical Market Analytics is as Director of Styrenics and Polyurethane Feedstocks in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa region. As a key resource within Chemical Market Analytics for understanding and providing insight into the Aromatics sector of the petrochemical industry, he works closely with the petrochemical, oil, and financial industries. He specializes in cumene, phenol, acetone, AMS, BPA, solvents, styrene monomer, and its derivatives as well as the in the isocyanates, polyether, and polyester polyols markets.

Prior to joining Chemical Market Analytics, he worked in the chemical and petrochemical industries in various Sales, Marketing, and Global Business Management roles at Ineos, Innovene, and BP. Fluent in English, Spanish, and German.

Martin Staley Executive Director, EMEA Acrylates / OXO Alcohols Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Martin Staley is the Executive Director for the Acrylic Acid and OXO Alcohol value chains at Chemical Market Analytics.

Martin Staley joined Chemical Market Analytics in March 2022 and served as the Research and Analysis Director for the Acrylic Acid and OXO Alcohol value chains, which includes Acrylic Acid, the acrylate esters; Butyl acrylate, 2-EH Acrylate, Methyl Acrylate and Ethyl Acrylate and Super Absorbent Polymers (SAP). The closely related chemical, methyl methacrylate (MMA), is also under Martin’s purview, as well as the downstream OXO plasticizer derivatives. These chemicals are covered in the Market Advisory Service reports, published monthly, and the World Analysis reports, published annually.

Martin has over 30 years of chemical industry experience, having recently served as the Regional Vice President for Third Coast International for 14 years. Third Coast is a leading chemical service provider with operations in the Houston area and historic joint ventures in Singapore and Qatar. The company is a leading automotive brake fluid producer, marketer of propylene glycol and a leading contract manufacturing company.

Before Third Coast, Martin spent 17 years in a variety of roles with LyondellBasell with a focus on the Propylene Oxide and derivatives business, including  PO-based glycol ethers, glycols, 1,4-Butanediol and derivatives and C4 specialties.

He also held the Chair of the Glycol Ether sector for the Oxygenated Solvent Producers Association (OSPA), an industry trade body under C.E.F.I.C., helping prepare the industry for the introduction of REACH.

Martin started his chemical industry career in the United Kingdom with what is now Univar.

Martin holds a BSc. Hons. Degree in Biology with subsidiary subjects of Biochemistry and Biotechnology from Portsmouth University.

Matthew Thoelke Vice President, EMEA Olefins Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Matthew Thoelke is the Vice President for Olefins and Derivatives in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa at Chemical Market Analytics.

Matthew Thoelke is the vice president of the olefins and derivatives team in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa at Chemical Market Analytics. During his time with the company, he has taken a wide variety of roles across a broad range of product areas. With over 25 years of experience, Matthew is a key resource within the business for understanding and insight into the olefins sector of the petrochemical industry.

Within the EMEA region, he works closely with the petrochemical, oil and financial industries, bringing support and guidance throughout the petrochemical chain. His current area of focus includes oversight of the ‘Europe and the Middle East Olefins Report’ and primary input and insight for the ‘World Ethylene and Propylene Analyses.’

His prior experience includes coverage of butadiene and elastomers, for which he remains a globally recognized industry speaker and expert. Whilst in this role, Mathew was responsible for the ‘Global Outlook — Feedstocks, Elastomers Report’ and the ‘World Butadiene Analysis’ and took the lead role in analyzing olefin and derivative markets in support of the long-term planning outlooks in the World Analysis.

Mr. Thoelke has both a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in Material Sciences from Cambridge University, as well as a Diploma in Manufacturing Engineering (ACDMM).

Martin Wiesweg Executive Director, EMEA Polymers Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Mr. Wiesweg is the Executive Director of Polymers for EMEA Plastics at Chemical Market Analytics

Martin Wiesweg is the executive director of the polymers team in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa at Chemical Market Analytics. His primary responsibilities focus on polystyrene, expandable polystyrene (EPS) and PET resin. With over 30 years of experience, Martin is a key resource within the business for understanding and insights into the polymer sector of the petrochemical industry.

He works closely with the European plastics industry in the EMEA region, from producers to converters and brand owners, bringing insights and guidance throughout the polymer chains. His current area of focus includes oversight of the ‘European Plastics and Polymers Report, contributing to various reports, e.g., Global Plastics and Polymers Report, Global PET Stream Report and European Aromatics Monomer Report. as well as primary input and insight for the World Polystyrene, EPS and PET resin analyses. He is also an expert on plastics sustainability, supporting Chemical Market Analytics’s circular plastics service.

Before Chemical Market Analytics, Martin spent over 20 years in the petrochemical industry. Within Huels AG, BP Chemical and Ineos Nova, he has had many responsibilities in technical and commercial departments, including technical service, marketing, sales and head of commercial management for speciality polymers.

Mr. Wiesweg holds a master’s degree in Physics from the University of Paderborn, Germany.

James Williamson Vice President, Global Financial & Capital Markets Team Lead Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

James Williamson is the Vice President for Financial & Capital Markets at Chemical Market Analytics.

James is responsible for the business development strategy for this critical user segment.

In addition, he has developed and is responsible for the publication of the Chemical Advisory Service (CAS), a product designed to primarily meet the needs of the Buy-side investment community, utilizing the in-depth knowledge and analysis from the Chemical Market Analytics chemical franchise.

James has a global focus on the Financial & Capital Markets. He works closely with the broader CMA teams to deliver the appropriate content, insights and analytics to this demanding client segment. His experience in the chemicals consulting and financial markets makes him uniquely qualified to do this.

Before joining Chemical Market Analytics in 2018, James worked as a chemicals consultant for ten years at CMAI (a predecessor organization to CMA) before moving into sell-side equity research and sales, covering the chemicals sector for over 20 years, including time at Morgan Stanley and UBS.

James has a BSc in Mining Geology from Imperial College, University of London, and is currently based in the London office.