Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS at EPCA 2024

Dewey Johnson Senior Vice President, Global Chief Market Officer Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Dewey is Senior Vice President (SVP), Global Chief Markets Officer, for Dow Jones. He previously was Global Lead for the Chemicals practice within Chemical Market Analytics for Dow Jones Company.

Dewey previously led a team of 250+ subject-matter experts with deep knowledge and experience across the global chemical sector. Chemical Market Analytics offers unmatched global coverage of the Base Chemicals space, covering almost 350+ chemistries through subscription services and consulting (bespoke research) offerings to our clients. The CMA practice presently covers Energy & Feedstocks, Olefins & Derivatives, Aromatics & Fibers, Inorganics (chlor-alkali, vinyls, and soda ash), Plastics & Polymers, Syngas (methanol, acetyls, and ammonia), chemicals, Sustainable chemistries (carbon, hydrogen, various chemicals), and plans to extend into newer areas.

Dewey has two master’s degrees in environmental engineering & business management, respectively. He has enjoyed a distinguished career with Eastman Chemical Company across multiple roles and functions for 1.5 decades. In 2009, he joined Chemical Market Associates Incorporated (CMAI) and has been in the chemical market intelligence and research space ever since. From the acquisition of CMAI by the erstwhile IHS Markit to the present acquisition by Dow Jones, Dewey has been in senior leadership positions within the organization and has a deep understanding of the business.

Dewey has worked extensively with chemical industry stakeholders across Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and the Americas, covering industry leadership, the financial sector, and policymakers. Dewey has led multiple engagements with chemical industry clients globally in strategy development and execution, analysis of chemical markets and business portfolios, and M&A due diligence.
Dewey is active in modeling critical socio-economic problems with communities associated with and including the MIT Sloan School of Management, University of New Hampshire, and the SUNY Albany School of Public Policy. He is based in Houston, Texas, United States of America.

Brian Newsome Executive Director, Global Chlor-alkali Advisory Service Lead Dow Jones Energy

Brian Newsome is the Executive Director of the Global Chlor-alkali advisory service at Chemical Market Analytics, part of Dow Jones Energy.

Prior to joining Chemical Market Analytics, 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 worked in commercial and technical roles at 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 and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor.

Julian Ahlers Associate Director, Acetyls Dow Jones Energy

Julian Ahlers is the Associate Director of Acetyls at Chemical Market Analytics, part of Dow Jones Energy.

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.

Angel Fernandez Associate Director, Chlor-Alkali Research EMEA Dow Jones Energy

Angel Fernandez is the Associate Director of EMEA Chlor-alkali Research at Chemical Market Analytics, part of Dow Jones Energy.

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 10 years researching and analyzing the oxo alcohols, plasticizers, and chlor-alkali markets at a market data provider.

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

Matthew Thoelke Executive Director, EMEA Olefins Dow Jones Energy

Matthew Thoelke is the Executive Director for Olefins and Derivatives in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa at Chemical Market Analytics, part of Dow Jones Energy.

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 a Master of Arts in Materials Science from Cambridge University, as well as a Diploma in Manufacturing Engineering (ACDMM).

Carlo Barrasa Vice President, Head of Research Dow Jones Energy

Carlo Barrasa is the Head of Research at Dow Jones Energy

Carlo leads Dow Jones Energy’s research department, which provides clients with advisory and analysis on the markets for energy, chemicals, minerals, power and resources. Prior to this role, he stewarded the development of energy market content to help Dow Jones Energy’s 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. Prior to joining Dow Jones Energy, 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 then held senior consulting and research positions at IHS Markit legacy companies PFC Energy and CMAI. Carlo holds a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering and a master’s in business administration, both from the University of Texas at Austin.

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

Prem is the Director of Polyester Fibers, Glycols & EO Derivatives for the European, Middle-East, and African markets at Chemical Market Analytics, part of Dow Jones Energy.

Steven has worked primarily in the aromatics and polyurethanes arena while at the company. With over 30 years of experience in the global chemical industry, Steven has worked as a consultant before joining Chemical Market Analytics.

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 experience in the chemical industry worldwide, 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 the development of new chemical plants. 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.

Mino Angelilli Sales and Business Development Director Dow Jones Energy

David Onyekpe Senior Research Analyst, Global Olefins Dow Jones Energy

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.

Kaushik Mitra Director, Europe Plastics & Polymers Dow Jones Energy

Kaushik Mitra is the Director of Polyolefin for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa at Dow Jones Energy.

Kaushik steers the Polyolefin Insight and Research practice for Dow Jones Energy. 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, at petrochemicals giant SABIC, Kaushik led the global business strategy team for the polymers business, shaping long-term ambitions for 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.

Steve Lewandowski Vice President, Global Base Chemicals Dow Jones Energy

Mr. Lewandowski is the Vice President of Global Base Chemicals at Chemical Market Analytics, part of Dow Jones Energy.

Based in Houston, Steve Lewandowski is the Vice President of Global Base Chemicals at Chemical Market Analytics, a leading global provider of information, insight, and consulting services to the global chemical and petrochemical industry.

During a career spanning 30+ years in the refining and chemical industry, Steve has experience across the full 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 held increasing responsibilities within TOTAL’s Petrochemical business. The latest assignment was overseas, in Brussels, Belgium, where he was responsible for Global Aromatics’ long-term commercial business. 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.

Remko Koster Director, EMEA C4 Olefins Dow Jones Energy

Remko Koster is the Director for C4 olefins and derivatives in Europe, the Middle East and Africa at Chemical Market Analytics, part of Dow Jones Energy.

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.

Kevin Longworth Director, Global Acrylonitrile Dow Jones Energy

Kevin Longworth is the Director for Global Acrylonitrile at Chemical Market Analytics, part of Dow Jones Energy.

Kevin Longworth is the 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 across 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 on his current role, he held several positions within Chemical Market Analytics, most recently as Director of 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 serving as the client-facing consultant for the Global Plastics service at 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.

Martin Wiesweg Executive Director, Polymers, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa Dow Jones Energy

Martin Wiesweg is the Executive Director of the polymers team in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa at Chemical Market Analytics, part of Dow Jones Energy.

Martin’s 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 and recycling, supporting Chemical Market Analytics’s circular plastics service and the Global Recycled Plastics Report. Before Chemical Market Analytics, Martin spent over 20 years in the petrochemical industry. Within Huels AG, BP Chemical and Ineos Nova, he has held many responsibilities in technical and commercial departments, including technical service, marketing, sales, and as head of commercial management for speciality polymers.

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

Tobias Spyra Director, EMEA Styrenics & Polyurethane Feedstocks Dow Jones Energy

Tobias Spyra is the Director for EMEA Styrenics & Polyurethane Feedstocks at Chemical Market Analytics, part of Dow Jones Energy.

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.

David Potter Executive Director, Aromatics and Fibers, EMEA Dow Jones Energy

David Potter is Executive Director of Aromatics and Fibers, EMEA, at Chemical Market Analytics, part of Dow Jones Energy.

David joined the team in January 2013 and is Executive Director 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 the daily pricing and market update reports for Chemical Market Analytics on aromatics and light olefins.

David joined the chemical team from Platts, where he was an editor on the petrochemicals team, responsible for price discovery, assessment, and editorial content across various petrochemical markets. However, David’s main focus was 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 8 years, from 1999 to 2007. He undertook many commercial roles here, including product management and customer service manager. He was responsible for buying and selling a wide range of aliphatic and aromatic products, ketone solvents, antifreeze, and glycols, and for undertaking many roles across road, rail, and shipping logistics.

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

Prem Chitkara Director, Polyester Fibers, Glycols & EO Derivatives Dow Jones Energy

Prem is the Director of Polyester Fibers, Glycols & EO Derivatives for the European, Middle-East, and African markets, at Chemical Market Analytics, part of Dow Jones Energy.

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 across the EMEA region with various stakeholders, including manufacturers & buyers, converters, end consumers, and financial institutions, providing support and guidance throughout 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, diverse global industry experience in manufacturing, technical, expansion projects, sales & marketing, and business development, which supports him in his current role. Before joining the consulting business in 2017, Prem worked for 23 years at Reliance Industries Limited across 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, UK.