Speakers | Global Chlor-Alkali & Vinyls Conference 2024

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.

Andy Farida Base Metals Research Analyst Fastmarkets

Andy Farida joined Fastmarkets’ base and precious metals research team in 2016 as an analyst. He now specializes in aluminium supply, demand and price dynamics. As well as doing fundamental and macroeconomic analysis, Andy is an avid user of technical analysis to study and forecast price action which he often shares in his reports. In addition, you can find Andy’s work on LinkedIn with a quirky but rather well-known tag of ‘Charts That Make You Go Hmm…’. He often presents his research at conferences on behalf of Fastmarkets, but in his free time he enjoys cooking and solving puzzles with his two little boys.

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.

Gabriel Fernandez-Azzato International Business Director TTOBMA

Gabriel Fernandez-Azzato joined TTOBMA as International Business Director in April 2021, leading its commercial processes and having a key role in developing TTOBMA’s view on the pulp market. He is based in Montevideo, Uruguay. He has almost 15 years of international experience in the pulp business, mainly in sales and commercial areas as part of multinational companies (Tetra Pak and GP Cellulose).

Jan Hesterkamp Global Business Development Director - Specialty Resins Orbia Polymer Solutions (Vestolit)

Jan started in 2008 at Vestolit in a customer service position and went through different positions concerning sales and operations planning. He started in business development in October 2021, handling the market segments of technical coatings and specialties. Today he is responsible for the global business development department of the business unit specialty resins at Orbia. He has commercial responsibility for the non-fossil PVC project in Vestolit. Jan received a B.A. in Business Administration with a M.Sc. in Sales Management.

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, as well as consultancy. Prior to 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.

Eddie Kok Executive Director, Global Vinyls Service Lead Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Eddie Kok is the Executive Director of Global Vinyls Service Lead at Chemical Market Analytics

Eddie Kok is the Executive Director and Global Service Leader for Chemical Market Analytics (CMA) Global Vinyls Market Advisory Service. During his time with the company, he has held various responsibilities within the Inorganics value chain, including Asia Lead for the chlor-alkali and vinyls market coverage. With over 20 years of chemicals sector research experience, Eddie is a crucial resource within the business for understanding and providing insight into chlor-alkali and vinyls markets.

Eddie’s currently focuses on vinyls markets, directing a team of researcher colleagues around the globe to monitor and understand market developments within the vinyls value chain and provide CMA clients with insights and critical analytics that facilitate decisions. Eddie also researches and analyzes Asian KOH markets and works closely with his global Chlor-alkali colleagues in other ways to provide an integrated view of the chlor-alkali and vinyls businesses.

Before joining Chemical Market Analytics, Eddie held multiple roles with CCM, a chlor-alkali producer based in Malaysia. His responsibilities at CMM included product portfolio management, production planning and regional sales.

Mr. Kok holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from Campbell University, North Carolina, United States. He is currently based out of the Singapore office.

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.

Wilson Loh Director, Asia Chlor Alkali Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Wilson Loh is the Director for Asian Chlor-alkali at Chemical Market Analytics.

Wilson Loh is a Research and Analysis Director in the Chemical Market Analytics Global Chlor-alkali Team. Before joining, he gained extensive experience through his decades of work in commercial and trading positions in chlor-alkali and other chemical industries.

Wilson’s deep experience facilitates his work in conducting extensive research and analysis on the chlor-alkali markets in Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Indian Subcontinent. He authors the Asian report section of the Global Chlor-alkali Market Report (GCR), which covers his assessments of chlorine and caustic soda markets across Asia. He also provides long-term projections for Asian markets through his contributions to the World Chlor-alkali Analysis.

Before joining Chemical Market Analytics, Wilson spent years at Basic Chemical Solutions (BCS) and Univar in chlor-alkali products distribution and trading in the Asian market. His work at BCS and Univar was preceded by several years in a commercial position at Chemical Industries Far East, a chlor-alkali producer.

Mr. Loh holds a BBA and MBA degree from the University of San Francisco. He joined Chemical Market Analytics in 2017 and is currently based in the Singapore office.

Ana Lopez Director, Americas Vinyls and Global Sodium Sulfate Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Ana Lopez is the Director of Americas Vinyls and Global Sodium Sulfate at Chemical Market Analytics.

Ana Lopez is the Americas Director of Vinyls (PVC, VCM, EDC) research at Chemical Market Analytics. In addition, she is responsible for the global market analysis of sodium sulfate. She has held several roles across numerous product areas during her time with the company. With over 25 years of experience, Mrs. Lopez is a key resource within the business for understanding and insight into the chlor-alkali & vinyls sectors of the chemical industry.

Within North America and South America, she works closely with the chlor-alkali and vinyls industries, bringing her experience from the commodity markets. Her current area of focus includes contributions to the ‘Global Vinyls Report as well as primary input and insight for the World Sodium Sulfate and World Vinyls analyses.

Her prior experience includes covering caustic soda, chlorine, and hydrochloric acid. In this role, she was responsible for contributing to the Global Chlor-Alkali Report and World Analysis Chlor-Alkali. Before joining Chemical Market Analytics, Mrs. Lopez spent several years with Pemex International Trading Company (PMI) in Mexico City in petrochemical commercial operations and market analysis, preceded by a few years with the EPC company ICA Fluor Daniel.

Mrs. Lopez has a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Universidad Iberoamericana and a Master of Business Administration from Instituto Tecnologico Autonomo de Mexico, both in Mexico City. She joined Chemical Market Analytics in 2007 and is based in the Houston office.

Joe McCabe President & CEO AutoForecast Solutions LLC (AFS)

As President and CEO of AutoForecast Solutions LLC (AFS), Joe leverages his decades of industry experience and knowledge to provide production forecasting and advisory services to the global automotive community. Joe manages the automotive turnkey operations at AFS including the global light vehicle, powertrain, drivetrain, and alternative propulsion forecast as well as a suite of AFS proprietary opportunity and sales planning software. AFS supports all tiered suppliers, VMs, government agencies, financial institutions, and the academic community with data, planning solutions, and a personalized support to help identify new business opportunities while mitigating risk.

Joe’s 25+ year career in automotive forecasting ranges from his tenure at AutoFacts, PwC, AutomotiveCompass, and now as founder of AutoForecast Solutions LLC (AFS). Joe earned his Bachelors of Chemical Engineering degree at Villanova University and an MBA at Pennsylvania State University.

Detlef Sagner Chlor-Alkali Manager NWE Tricon Energy Ltd.

Mr. Detlef Sagner is a Senior Trader in Tricon Energy Ltd., for their Chlor-alkali business and his primary role is the Caustic and EDC trade, specializing in West Europe region. He is based out of their Germany office in Cologne. He is married to Marlies and has three kids.

Tricon Energy Limited, is a USA based trading and distribution company in petrochemicals, polymers, fuels and dry bulk, serving > 4500 customers, sourcing from > 400 suppliers. The Tricon Group has operations in more than 20 countries and a global presence in over 120 countries, trading in excess of 16 million MT and over US$10 Billion in revenues.

Detlef went through a commercial/chemical education program in Bayer AG Germany. He was also deputed on an overseas assignment to Mexico to handle the sales and distribution in the USA/Mexico region before coming back to Germany as the Export Head of former Bayer Caustic business, now Covestro.

Detlef joined Tricon Energy in early 2011 and has more than 30 years of Global experience in the Product management, distribution and trading of Chlor/Alkali products, having worked for German major, Bayer AG for 13 years and then subsequently working as a Business Manager and Global trader for Caustic Soda and EDC.

Pieter Smeets Head of Sustainability Ineos Invoyn

Pieter Smeets is the head of Sustainability at INEOS Invoyn, where he is responsible for the sustainability strategy that centers around 4 pillars; responsible production, carbon neutrality, circular economy and Value to Society. In addition, Pieter is responsible for the ESG disclosures of INEOS Inovyn.

Pieter is a chemical engineer bio training, and after a PhD in heterogenous catalysis at the K.U.Leuven in Belgium, Pieter started his career in the petrochemical industry in SABIC as part of the R&D department. Since 2015, Pieter has been active in the sustainability field, and was closely involved in developing carbon neutrality and circularity roadmaps.

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.

Lina Suarez Executive Director, North America Chlor-alkali Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Lina Suarez is the Executive Director of North America Chlor-alkali Research at Chemical Market Analytics.

Ms. Suarez is the Executive Director of North America Chlorine and Hydrochloric Acid. Over her tenure with CMA, she has held various roles, including Americas caustic soda market coverages. With over 25 years of extensive experience in integrated chlor-alkali, ethylene, and vinyls production chains, as well as other petrochemicals, Ms. Suarez is a crucial contributor to Chemical Market Analytics’ industry-leading expertise.

Ms. Suarez currently focuses on the North America region, conducting research, analyzing, and reporting on the chlorine and hydrochloric acid markets. Lina works closely with clients in all regions and the financial sector to provide support and guidance on chlor-alkali chemicals.

Before joining Chemical Market Analytics, Lina worked as a sales executive and product manager in multiple Latin American countries. Her experience includes positions as Commercial Director for PMV / Vestolit Mexico, guiding chlor-alkali, ethylene and VCM business strategies and commercial operations, and expertise defining new business models and executing sales programs in Mexico, Colombia and Brazil for chemical and oil companies, including 3M Colombia, DuPont México, Chevron México and BP México.

Ms. Suarez holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the Universidad Nacional de Colombia,  an MBA in Finance from the Universidad Externado de Colombia, and a Marketing Degree from the Universidad Iberoamericana de Mexico. Lina has resided in Houston, TX, since joining Chemical Market Analytics in 2019.

Henry Warren Director, EMEA Vinyls and Middle East Caustic Soda Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Henry Warren is the Director of EMEA Vinyls and Middle East Caustic Soda at Chemical Market Analytics.

Henry Warren is an integral Global Vinyls and Chlor-alkali Market Advisory Service member. Since joining the company in 2001, he has focused on vinyls, from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) through its precursors – ethylene dichloride (EDC) and vinyl chloride monomer (VCM). Since early 2024, he also assumed responsibility for caustic soda in the Middle East. During his time at the company, he has held various additional positions, including responsibility for chlorine, hydrochloric acid, chlorinated solvents, TiO2 and caustic potash. Along with the stakeholder relationships he has built over several decades, his in-depth understanding of the industry contributes to the unparalleled insight that Chemical Market Analytics brings to the vinyls and chlor-alkali sector.

Henry provides coverage, analysis and insight into the vinyls value chain in EMEA and caustic soda in the Middle East in the Global Vinyls and Chlor-alkali Reports, respectively. He is also a key contributor to our Vinyls and Chlor-alkali World Analysis services. With a regional and global perspective, he works closely with clients across regions to provide support in relevant areas of the vinyls and chlor-alkali industries.

He entered the field of chemical market analysis in 1996, analyzing feedstocks and several polyolefin value chains in Europe, North America and Latin America.

Mr Warren holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Humberside, UK. He is a native English speaker, fluent in Spanish, proficient in French and resides near Oxford, UK.