World Methanol Conference

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

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, Mike 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.

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

Andrei Akzhigitov Director, EMEA Methanol Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Andrei Akzhigitov is the EMEA Methanol Director for Syngas Chemicals at Chemical Market Analytics.

His responsibilities include the weekly World Methanol Report and monthly World Methanol Analysis,  focusing on the EMEA region.

Before joining Chemical Market Analytics in February 2024, Andrei worked for over 20 years with well-known companies in the chemical sector, such as Evonik, Brenntag, Metafrax, and Sibur. He has a rich history of working on diverse methanol projects, optimizing supply chains, handling trade, spearheading derivative production, and engaging in R&D. His career has led him to work in cities like Moscow, Hanau, and Amman. Andrei has a Master’s in Chemistry from Lomonosov Moscow State University in Russia and has also completed a marketing program at Mannheim Business School in Germany.

Maia Dolan Director, Americas Methanol Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Maia Dolan is the Director of Methanol with the Syngas Chemicals Team at Chemical Market Analytics.

Based in New York, Marisabel (Maia) is a Director of Methanol for Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS (CMA), A Dow Jones Company in the Americas. She has more than 18 years of experience in Market Intelligence in the petrochemical industry. She has managed and led teams of research analysts in domestic and international chemical studies involving market research, economic evaluations, technology assessments, and strategic plan development and analysis.

Before joining CMA, Maia worked at S&P Global, delivering strategy, sustainability, and analytics with a focus on plastic recycling and low-carbon production processes. She also worked as a Senior Consultant for NexantECA, authoring industry-leading reports focused on economic, pricing, and technology trends and developments in areas of interest to the chemical
and allied industries.

A Honduran native, Maia received a B.S. and M.S. in Chemical Engineering from Manhattan University.

Xiaomeng Ma Director, Asia Methanol Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Xiaomeng Ma is the Director of Asia Methanol at Chemical Market Analytics.

Xiaomeng is an experienced researcher with a strong track-record working experience in the industrial sectors spanning from petrochemical markets, and specialty chemical industries to energy and fuel industries. Xiaomeng’s current focuses are on methanol-related industries.

She is skilled in project assessment, building and implementing business strategies, and creating economic models. She has a strong professional background with a Masters in Engineering and a realistic understanding of the opportunities and challenges in the Asia chemical industry.

Shoji Matsukawa General Manager, Carbon Neutral Project Department Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company, Inc.

After obtaining Ph.D. degree in Chemical Engineering, Shoji joined Mitsubishi Gas Chemical (MGC) in 2003 and has worked on a variety of derivative chemicals of methanol and ammonia such as methacrylates, polyols, high-performance resins etc., in terms of R&D and business development. Since 2024, he has lead the Carbon Neutral Project Department of C1 Chemicals Division, overseeing the development of renewable methanol business throughout the methanol value chain by utilizing the circular carbon methanol platform CARBOPATH^TM that MGC deploys to realize circular economy. The activities range from developing manufacturing projects for renewable methanol to creation of the green chemical market in collaboration with various partners in the value chain.

Dr. Fridolin Roth General Manager of the Renewables Division Axpo Solutions AG

Dr. Fridolin Roth worked as General Manager of the Renewables Division at Axpo Solutions AG for almost 10 years. During that time, he headed the Business Development of the Division and took responsibility for the operation of on- and offshore windfarms in various European countries, the construction of a geothermal power plant as well as several M&A projects.

After Axpo adopted Hydrogen as one of its strategic growth fields, Fridolin switched his focus to Business and Project Development in Hydrogen. He always strives to implement new business models and to optimize existing assets with his excellent team and partners.

Fridolin’s interest in Renewable Energy goes back to his youth where he built his first small scale aero-generator from his bicycle and produced Hydrogen on his parent’s kitchen table. He went on to study mathematics, physics and Music before working as a Strategy and Management Consultant in the Energy Sector and later taking operational responsibility at Axpo.

Mariana Santos Moreira Thought Leadership Director Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Mariana is the Thought Leadership Director at Chemical Market Analytics, leveraging the full portfolio of CMA’s chemical markets intelligence into informative and thought-provoking insight pieces pertinent to the whole supply chain.
Throughout her chemical market research and analysis career, Mariana served as regional/global SME of a wide breadth of sectors within the chemical industry: Aromatics (Benzene/Styrene and PX/PTA), Chemicals of the Energy Transition (Ammonia, Methanol, Hydrogen), Inorganic Chemicals (Caustic Soda, Bleaching Chemicals, Soda Ash), Polymer Films & Flexible Packaging (inc. Plastics Sustainability taskforces).
Mariana started her career at IHS, having rejoined CMA in 2024. Prior to rejoining CMA, Mariana served as Head of Aromatics, Head of Chemicals of the Energy Transition, and Films & Flexible Packaging Lead Analyst, at Wood Mackenzie.
Mariana holds an MSc in Chemical Engineering from Instituto Superior Tecnico, University of Lisbon.

Oleksandr Siromakha Head of Sustainable Fuels MB Energy Holding GmbH & Co. KG

Oleksandr Siromakha is the Head of Sustainable Fuels at MB Energy, a leading independent fuel supplier. With over 17 years of expertise in energy trading and logistics, project development, and strategic planning, he is driving MB Energy‘s shift towards CO2-neutral solutions, including e-fuels, advanced biofuels, green hydrogen, and hydrogen derivatives.

Before joining MB Energy, Oleksandr was an Integrated Business Development Manager at the Marquard & Bahls Group, where he focused on strategic corporate growth. He also led the marketing and market analysis department at Oiltanking.

Oleksandr holds a Master’s degree in Economics from the University of Konstanz, where he specialized in climate-related studies, enhancing his understanding of sustainable energy management.

Gabriel Sousa Executive Director for Innovation and Technology Development Altri Group

Gabriel Sousa is an experienced executive director for innovation and technological development at Altri, a leading pulp and paper group in Europe. With over 20 years of industry experience, Gabriel has a strong background in project management, strategic advisory, operational excellence, research and innovation, and business development on the Forest, Pulp and Paper Industry. Gabriel is responsible for developing, managing, and implementing the innovation and R&D strategy for Altri’s pulp business. He focuses on value-added research, innovation, and process improvement projects, while monitoring new and adjacent business opportunities. Gabriel holds a master’s degree in chemical engineering from Porto Engineering University, post-graduation in Pulp Paper Engineering from Univ. Beira Interior and an MBA from Porto Business School