Commercial Impact of Soda Ash Technologies Workshop

Nick Kovics Vice President, Global Chemical Research Lead & 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 in dual leadership roles at Chemical Market Analytics, where he is Vice President and Head of Chemical Research as well as the Inorganic Chemicals Team Lead. He brings over 25 years of global experience in the chemical industry to the organization.

Nick was promoted to Head of Chemical Research in 2025 and now oversees the Plastics & Polymers, Aromatics & Fibers, Olefins, Inorganic Chemicals, and Syngas value chains. Prior to this role, he held several leadership positions within Chemical Market Analytics’ Inorganics practice, including responsibility for the Chlor-alkali, Bleaching Chemicals, and Battery Materials advisory services.

Before joining Chemical Market Analytics, Nick held various technical, commercial, and financial roles across the broader chemical and energy sectors. He began his career as a Process engineer in the chlor-alkali sector at Canadian Occidental, then moved into the energy industry with Schlumberger Canada as a field engineer in cementing and hydraulic fracturing Services. He later transitioned into the emerging hydrogen fuel cell sector, spending a decade in technical, commercial, and corporate finance roles. Nick subsequently returned to the Electrochemical industry with Canexus (now Chemtrade Logistics), where he held commercial leadership positions in chlor-alkali and sodium chlorate marketing.

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

Sanjay Shah Executive Director, Consulting Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Sanjay Shah is an Executive Director of the consulting team at Chemical Market Analytics (by OPIS, a Dow Jones Company).

Sanjay is responsible for leading project execution, guiding market and commercial analytics assignments, and building and developing consulting teams. He has around 25 years of experience in bespoke consulting in chemical, petrochemical, refining and energy sectors gained through a range of functional and management roles with Worley Consulting and Mott MacDonald.

With a strong record of delivering business and project performance and developing consulting teams, Sanjay’s consulting experience is primarily focused on the chemical and petrochemical sectors with an emphasis on market/pricing analysis, commercial, strategy, M&A due diligence and financial analysis carried out through single client studies for corporates, governments, investors, financial institutions and multi-lateral agencies in the Middle East, Europe, and Asia.

Sanjay’s experience in the market, pricing and commercial analysis include developing integrated market supply-demand and pricing models and comprehensive financial and economic scenario models covering a wide range of commodity chemicals, petrochemicals (including steam cracker, PDH, MTO/MTP plants), refineries, GTL plants and gas distribution projects.

Before consulting, Sanjay gained a strong industrial and technical background through his experience in R&D, production, and marketing in a large chemical manufacturing unit. He holds a postgraduate degree in organic chemistry and business administration and is a certified management consultant.

Sanjay is based in London, United Kingdom.

Rock Bian Associate Director, China Soda Ash Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Rock Bian is the Associate Director of the China Soda Ash Research and Analysis at Chemical Market Analytics.

With over 20 years of experience, Rock is an essential resource within the business for understanding and insights into the soda ash sector of the inorganic chemical industry.

Rock works closely with the soda ash industry in China, providing support and guidance throughout the product chain. His focus includes oversight of the mainland Chinese section of soda ash reports and primary input and insight for the world soda ash analyses.

Rock has over 20 years of experience in chemical industries. He started his career as an engineer and project manager for a leading chemical engineering design institute in China. He supported and handled various engineering, design and construction projects in China and Tanzania. Rock also has extensive experience in soda ash and hydrogen peroxide with Solvay and FMC (now Genesis) and successfully led the development of a greenfield hydrogen peroxide plant. Before joining Chemical Market Analytics, Rock had a role in strategic planning and business development for Sinochem International, where he led market research for new business opportunities and planned the subsequent relevant venture developments.

Rock holds a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering degree from Zhengzhou Engineering College and a Master of Business Administration from Nanjing University.

Marguerite Morrin Executive Director, Global Soda Ash Service Lead Chemical Market Analytics

Marguerite Morrin is the Executive Director of Global Soda Ash Service Lead at Chemical Market Analytics.

Marguerite Morrin is the Executive Director of Soda Ash Research at Chemical Market Analytics (CMA). Marguerite launched the Global Soda Ash Market Advisory Service (MAS) in 2008. Before launching the soda ash MAS, she held various roles in the Inorganics value chain, including coverage of the European chlor-alkali and vinyls markets, where she helped develop MAS.

Marguerite’s area of focus is the Soda Ash Market Advisory Service. With over 30 years of research experience in the chemicals sector, Marguerite is a key CMA resource for analysis and insights into soda ash markets. She works with the global soda ash team to understand and track soda ash market developments, and to provide CMA clients with insight and critical analytics that facilitate decision-making. Marguerite also organizes the CMA annual World Soda Ash Conference.

Marguerite holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from University College Dublin, Ireland and a postgraduate diploma in Business Studies from UCD Smurfit Business School, Dublin. She is currently based out of the London office.

Hasan Copur Associate Director, Global Soda Ash Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Hasan is the Associate Director of the Soda Ash team at Chemical Market Analytics.

Hasan is an associate director within the inorganics team and has expertise in the global Soda Ash Market Advisory Service. Over 15 years in commercial roles, Hasan has gained international experience in the chemical industry, holding various sales and business management positions. He engaged in diverse sectors, using inorganic chemicals as raw materials, and helped build a portfolio of global clients.

During his time with the company, he has provided market coverage of the soda ash market in each region of the world, offering insight and intelligence across the soda ash value chain, with a particular focus on Europe and the Indian subcontinent.

Hasan spent over 10 years with Sisecam, a global glass and soda ash manufacturer, managing international sales activities for its chemicals group across multiple locations. He spent four years in China, leading the regional business. Prior to joining in 2021, he spent 3 years trading in the UK, overseeing a range of basic chemicals and metals in international markets.

Hasan holds a Bachelor’s in Economics from Istanbul University and an MBA from Yeditepe University. He joined the company in 2021 and resides in London, UK.