2024 Speakers | World Chemical Forum

Heather Cykoski Senior Vice President, Industrial and Process Automation Schneider Electric

Heather Cykoski, Senior Vice President, Industrial and Process Automation, Member of the Executive Leadership Team, leads the Industrial Automation business in North America to be our customer’s digital and automation partner for sustainability and resiliency.

A passionate global business leader with 25 years of international experience leading multi-divisional, multi-cultural teams across the energy value chain, Heather brings a strong track record of excellence in both business and leadership. She began her career at the Foxboro Company in 1998, as a member of the Professional Leadership Program, with roles in engineering and business development. Starting in 2005, she held several leadership roles at ABB in marketing, sales, and strategic investments. Joining as North American Manager for British Petroleum and Shell in 2007, Vice President, Group Accounts, working with The Dow Chemical Company, successfully executing chemical plants and new investments in Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and North America. In 2010, she led ABB’s partnership with Dow Chemical and Saudi Aramco’s joint venture from concept through lifecycle, in Jubail Industrial City, Saudi Arabia. In 2012, she managed Group Strategic Project investments including East Africa’s liquid natural gas and North America’s gulf coast chemical and liquid natural gas investments. Most recently, leading ABB’s global Engineering, Procurement, and Construction Industry business. In August 2023, Heather returned to Schneider Electric with a clear mandate to be an “impact maker” in energy transition, harnessing the full portfolio and strength of our company, AVEVA, and strategic partnerships. In addition to her professional experience, Heather is deeply involved in the community and is a fierce advocate of women in STEM. She serves on the Board of Directors of Fluitron and the World of Affairs Council. She has been honored with the Gamechangers Progress Champion Award in 2022 and 2023; WeQual Americas Leadership Excellence Award in 2021 and named a Global Leader of Influence, World Affairs in 2021; 10 Most Influential Women in Technology 2020 and a member of the Global Women’s Forum for Economy & Society, Paris France. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Distribution from the College of Engineering at Texas A&M University and IMD’s Executive Leadership from IMD in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Heather resides in Houston, Texas with her husband and two daughters.

Jeff Erhardt Chief Executive Officer Mattiq

Jeff Erhardt, Mattiq Chief Executive Officer is a technology leader and entrepreneur with 20 years of experience in artificial intelligence (AI) and material science. Most recently he was Executive Vice President, Intelligent Systems at General Electric, where he led industrial AI efforts following the company’s acquisition of Wise.io, where he was CEO. Erhardt holds more than 30 patents, and an engineering degree from Cornell.

Jose de Barros Vice President, Ethylene Business Group Lummus Technology

Jose de Barros is currently the Vice President of the Ethylene Business Group within Lummus Technology. Jose manages the technical and commercial aspects of the Ethylene Business Group, which includes several key technologies for producing olefins such Steam Cracking, Olefins Conversion Technology, Methanol to Olefins and Butene-1 and Hexene-1 co-monomer production technologies.

Jose has more than 30 years of industry experience.  Prior to joining Lummus Technology in 1992, Jose worked in process and operations at Braskem ethylene plants in the Camacari Petrochemicals complex, Brazil for 6 years. Since joining Lummus Technology, Jose has held different positions in the Ethylene Business Group, including Process Design Manager, Director Olefins Technology and Director Business Development. Additionally, Jose led the newly formed Process and Engineering group for Lummus Petrochemicals overseeing the Process Engineering and Mechanical Design groups in both USA and India.

He holds a Master of Science degree in Chemical Engineering Process Design from Manhattan College, NY and a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from UFPE, Brazil. Jose is also fluent in Portuguese, Spanish and French.

Peter R. Huntsman Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer Huntsman Corporation

Claude Létourneau President & CEO Svante Technologies Inc

Claude Létourneau, President & CEO of Svante Technologies Inc. (Svante), is an industrial projects veteran renowned for his dynamic leadership. With a proven track record of steering large-scale projects from laboratory inception to full-scale industrial implementation, Mr. Létourneau is a visionary thinker whose approach is characterized by the 3Es of leadership – effort, energy, and excitement.

Possessing over three decades of experience in advancing technology development and commercialization, Claude plays a pivotal role in positioning Svante as a global leader in the development of a CO2 Marketplace. His illustrious career includes senior management roles at industry giants such as Canam Group Inc., SNC-Lavalin Inc., and Kontron Embedded Computers AG. Additionally, he has founded two technology companies, Vaperma, Inc. (specializing in membrane-based gas separation) and Avestor Inc. (focusing on thin-film lithium polymer batteries).

Claude Létourneau’s influential leadership extends beyond his role at Svante, earning him recognition as one of the World’s Most Influential Decision Makers by the Wall Street Journal CEO Council. This prestigious acknowledgment underscores his impact on the global stage and his commitment to driving positive change in the industry.

A bilingual executive, Claude leverages his diverse expertise to forge strategic alliances and partnerships with like-minded industry leaders. His comprehensive understanding of technology development positions Svante for rapid business scale-up, guided by an aggressive time-to-market game plan.

Educationally, Claude holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Chemical Engineering and a Master’s in Chemical Engineering from the esteemed University Laval in Quebec, Canada. Grounded in both theoretical knowledge and practical application, Claude Létourneau continues to lead Svante toward a future where environmental responsibility and carbon capture initiatives redefine industry standards.

Kelly Knopp CEO and Founder Citroniq Chemicals

Mr. Knopp is CEO and Co-Founder of Citroniq Chemicals, an industry leader in the development of sustainable plastics.  He has over 40 years of experience in the Refining, Midstream, Petrochemicals and Plastics industries.  His experience includes leading international sales teams, building sales & marketing strategies for new products and regions, directing new business development and improving sales teams through focused customer engagement.  He has served in leadership roles for NOVA Chemicals, Williams Energy, Koch Industries and Phillips 66 Company.  Mr. Knopp holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Kansas and MBA from the University of Houston – Clear Lake.

Susan Bell Sr. Vice President Downstream Rystad Energy

Susan Bell is a professional chemical engineer with over 25 years of experience in the petroleum industry.  Her expertise is with refinery planning and optimization.  She is based in Calgary, Canada and has experience with many facets of the oil industry from refinery capital planning, refinery run plan optimization, crude oil market development, commercial negotiations, and mergers/acquisitions.  Susan just joined Rystad Energy in September.

Casey Selecman Director of Powertrain Forecast AutoForecast Solutions LLC (AFS)

Casey has been helping the automotive industry understand the complex world of powertrain forecasting for over 20 years. As the Director of Powertrain Forecasts at AFS, his primary focus is on the North American market, but he keeps a constant eye on external market influences as the world becomes less regional and more global.

Over his career, Casey has worked directly with vehicle manufacturers, suppliers, automotive associations, and regulators to support their unique business challenges. Today, he helps companies navigate industry risk and opportunities by using critical market intelligence to give them an edge in their strategy and business planning efforts. He has also supported both California and US Federal fuel economy and GHG regulations in the early 2000’s and continues to follow all regulations impacting future powertrain requirements.

He has a mechanical engineering degree from the University of Michigan and lives with his wife and three kids in suburban Detroit.

David Badal Managing Director, Global Head of Chemicals Morgan Stanley

David Badal is the Managing Director and Global Head of Chemical at Morgan Stanley. David joined Morgan Stanley in 2013. He spent 14 years as a Chemicals Investment Banker at JPMorgan. Prior to JPMorgan, David was a Chemical Engineer, managing the day-to-day operations of two chemicals facilities for Monsanto at its Chocolate Bayou facility in Alvin, Texas for 4 years.

David received a B.S. in Chemical Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis with cum laude honors. He completed his MBA from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business.

Adrian Cooper CEO Oxford Economics

Adrian Cooper is responsible for coordinating and managing Oxford Economics’ global economic analysis, forecasting and consultancy activities, and overseeing its global team of over 450 professionals including 300 economists and analysts. He has led Oxford Economics’ work on a wide array of consultancy projects, ranging from policy advice to government departments in Europe, the US, Africa, and Asia to detailed analysis of the economic impact of particular industries and investment proposals.

Adrian spent the first seven years of his career with HM Treasury, England. During this time, he worked on the analysis of tax and other economic policy changes as part of the preparations for the UK Budget. He was also the coordinator of the government’s macroeconomic forecast for two years.

Prior to joining Oxford Economics in 1994, Adrian was UK economist for James Capel & Company, responsible for analysing and forecasting the UK economy for institutional investors, as well as briefing Capel’s own traders. Adrian was educated at the University of Bristol, England, where he gained a first-class degree in Economics; and at the London School of Economics and Political Science, England, where he achieved a distinction in the MSc in Economics and won the Ely Devons prize for outstanding performance in the degree examinations.

Greg Ip Chief Economics Commentator and Deputy Economics Editor The Wall Street Journal

Greg Ip is chief economics commentator and deputy economics editor for The Wall Street Journal. He writes about U.S. and global economic developments and policy in the weekly Capital Account column and in Real Time Economics, the Wall Street Journal’s economics newsletter, and helps guide the newspaper’s economic coverage. From 2008 to January, 2015, he was U.S. economics editor for The Economist, based in Washington, D.C. Greg has won or shared in several prizes for journalism. He is the author of “The Little Book of Economics: How the Economy Works in the Real World” (Wiley, 2010) and “Foolproof: Why Safety Can Be Dangerous and How Danger Makes Us Safe,” (Little, Brown, 2015). A native of Canada, Mr. Ip received a bachelor’s degree in economics and journalism from Carleton University in Ottawa, Ontario.

Chris Matthews Editor, U.S. Energy The Wall Street Journal

Chris Matthews leads The Wall Street Journal’s U.S. energy coverage from the Journal’s bureau in Houston. Chris oversees a team of reporters covering all facets of U.S. energy, including oil and gas, renewables, electrification and the energy transition. He also writes about those industries and issues, with an eye for big-picture stories. Chris has worked at the Journal for more than a decade and previously covered major oil companies, including ExxonMobil and Chevron, as well as shale producers, LNG exporters, and petrochemical companies. He also covered white collar crime, law enforcement and courts in New York and wrote about the U.S. Justice Department’s corporate law-enforcement efforts in Washington.

Avi Salzman Senior Writer Barron's

Bio coming soon

Kathy Hall Executive Director PetroChem Wire by OPIS

Prior to joining OPIS by Dow Jones, Kathy was the founder of PetroChem Wire, a daily news and pricing service dedicated to the US olefin and polymer markets. The company’s ethylene and propylene assessments serve as benchmarks for futures contracts that trade on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) and the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) and are widely used by the petrochemical and plastics industries as a reference in supply contracts and also spot market transactions.

In addition to its daily reports, PetroChem Wire also publishes weekly reports about PVC and also recycled plastics. The OPIS PCW Recycled Plastics Weekly has published continuously since 2010.

In 2018, OPIS acquired PetroChem Wire. Kathy now serves as OPIS’ executive director for global petrochemical products. Prior to founding PetroChem Wire, Kathy spent more than 10 years as an editor and manager at Platts, focused on petrochemical markets.

Ben Scriber Director, North America NGLs OPIS, A Dow Jones Company

Ben Scriber, the Director of Natural Gas Liquids and LNG, joined OPIS, A Dow Jones Company, in 2015. With over 20 years of experience in the North American NGL industry, Ben has experienced several bearish and bullish markets, and witnessed the ever-changing evolution of the NGL industry, including the growth of Mont Belvieu and its importance in the global NGL market. Prior to joining OPIS, he was a retail and wholesale supply manager for AmeriGas, the largest propane retailer in North America, and began his career as an analyst for a startup company called Chalkboard, which was then acquired and absorbed into the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE). As a balance, Ben also actively serves on the board of the LPG Charity Fund and the Petrochemical Feedstock Association of the Americas.

Phillip Smee Director Polyurethane Feedstocks Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Fellow of the Institute of Chemical Engineering and Chartered Engineer with 30+ years of experience in the oil, gas, chemical and process industries. Having held roles in Operations, Engineering, Project Management and Performance Management.

Geographically, has lived and worked in Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, China, Hong Kong, USA, Saudi Arabia and UK.

10 years production experience in Polyols, 8 years production experience in Isocyanates.

Craig Murphy Associate Director, Global Bleaching Service Lead Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Dr. Craig Murphy is an Associate Director at Chemical Market Analytics.

Dr. Craig Murphy is based in Eastern Canada and is the global service lead for the Global Bleaching Report as an associate director. Craig focuses on reporting on the hydrogen peroxide, sodium chlorate, potassium hydroxide, aluminum, and pulp and paper markets.

With over 20 years of experience in product and market development across various industries, including chemicals, pulp & paper, plastics, oil & gas, and advanced manufacturing, Craig brings a wealth of technical and practical knowledge to his market reporting role at OPIS, a Dow Jones Company.

Craig holds a PhD in Chemistry from McGill University and an MBA from the Haskayne School of Business at the University of Calgary.

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.

Steven English Executive Director, Europe Aromatics Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Steven English has over thirty years of experience in the chemical industry. He was a business leader for many years with The Dow Chemical Company in North America and Europe. Steven has extensive polyurethane knowledge, as well as an excellent general chemical industry background. He has worked with many leading chemical companies as a consultant developing businesses, strategies, and new businesses. In recent years he has been working for Chemical Market Analytics as Director Consultant for Aromatics, including cumene phenol and acetone, as well as polyurethanes.

Adrian Calcaneo Vice President, Energy & Feedstocks (NGL & Naphtha) Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Adrian Calcaneo is Vice President of NGL & Naphtha at Chemical Market Analytics.

Mr. Calcaneo is based in Houston, Texas, where he currently serves as the Vice President for Energy and Feedstocks at Chemical Market Analytics (CMA). In this role, he leads the global development efforts for new NGL (Natural Gas Liquids) and Naphtha products, contributing to market deliverables and insights.

With over 20 years of experience, Mr. Calcaneo has worked in various international locations, including Mexico, the United States, the Netherlands, Spain, and the United Kingdom. His diverse background highlights his ability to navigate different business environments.

Before joining CMA, Mr. Calcaneo held the Latin America NGL Lead position at S&P Global Commodity Insights, where he oversaw NGL market research across 43 Latin America and the Caribbean countries. Prior to that, he worked as a Manager for Consulting Delivery at EAG Services, Inc., advising multinational energy companies. He also researched international trade, energy policy, and global economics at the Mosbacher Institute for Trade, Economics, and Public Policy.

Mr. Calcaneo has an academic background that includes a BA from Texas A&M University, a Certificate in Advanced International Affairs and a Master of Public Administration focusing on Energy Policy from the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University. Additionally, he holds a Graduate Certificate and a Master’s Degree in Data Science from Harvard University.

John Mathew Vice President, Business Development Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS, a Dow Jones Company

John Mathew is Vice President of Business Development at Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS, a Dow Jones Company.

John Mathew joined Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS, A Dow Jones Company, as Vice President (Business Development) starting May-2023. John will be part of the leadership team within CMA and will be based in the Dubai office. John comes with more than three decades of diverse experience in the hydrocarbon downstream industry value chains across the petrochemicals and the oil & gas industry.

Prior to joining CMA, John served as the Vice President (International Business Development) within ADNOC’s downstream directorate. Having worked with several industry leaders, such as Basell Polyolefins, Saudi Aramco & ADNOC, John comes with extensive global experience and functional competencies within the chemicals industry.

John holds a Master of Marketing Management degree and a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering.

Pablo Giorgi Executive Director, Global Olefins Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Pablo Giorgi is the Executive Director of the North American Light Olefins business at Chemical Market Analytics.

Pablo is a chemical engineer with over 20 years of experience in the petrochemical industry. He leads the North American Light Olefins service, which provides clients valuable insights into the regional market dynamics of cracker feedstocks, ethylene, and propylene.

Prior to joining Chemical Market Analytics, Pablo held positions in areas such as Supply Chain, Commercial, Strategy, and Market Intelligence. He started his career at Innova, a Styrene and Polystyrene producer in Brazil. Later, he joined Braskem (through legacy PQU), where he spent more than 13 years in different capacities, and moved to Houston, TX, in the process.
Pablo received his BS in chemical engineering from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) in Brazil. He also holds an MBA in Logistics from Fundacao Getulio Vargas (FGV) and an MBA in Management from Fundacao Dom Cabral (FDC), both in Brazil.

Paulo Pereira Executive Director, LAT Chlor-Alkali and Bleaching Chemicals Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Paulo Pereira is the Executive Director of the LAT Chlor-Alkali and Bleaching Chemicals business at Chemical Market Analytics.

Paulo joined Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS in December 2022 as Executive Director. He is a native of Santos, Brazil, and graduated in 1984 from Maua Engineering School in Sao Paulo, Brazil with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering. Upon graduating, Paulo joined Dow Chemical at the Guaruja site in Sao Paulo state.  After 22 years in Dow Chemical Epoxy and Polyurethane operations in Brazil, the U.S., and Italy, Paulo joined Dow’s Technology Centers division, leading the global Polyurethane and Alkoxylation technology teams. In 2019, he was seconded to Sadara Chemical Company in Al Jubail, Saudi Arabia, as Technology Director and subsequently repatriated to the U.S. in 2021.  Paulo’s extensive knowledge of the chemical industry and chlor-alkali derivative markets adds to the already industry-leading expertise of Chemical Market Analytics global chlor-alkali research team.

Joel Morales Vice President, Global Plastics & Polymers | North America Polyethylene & Polypropylene Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Joel Morales is the Vice President of Global Plastics & Polymers at Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS, a Dow Jones company.

Joel joined Chemical Market Analytics through the legacy IHS Markit Base Chemical team in March 2013, covering Polyethylene (PE) and Polypropylene (PP) in North America. He is currently the service leader of three market advisory subscription services: The Global Plastics and Polymers Report, the North American PE Report, and the North American PP Report. He has brought a wealth of industry knowledge to IHS Markit through multiple stints along the plastics value chain.

He began his career with polyolefins manufacturer Solvay Polymers, which later became Ineos, in technical services and product development before he moved into field sales. After five years at Solvay Polymers, Joel moved into resin distribution sales for both Muehlstein and then United Polychem as a Product Manager, where he managed and sold polyethylene and polypropylene resins into various customer segments. In his most recent role before joining IHS Markit, Joel was a purchasing manager for Silgan Plastics, a major blow-molding, and injection molding plastics converter. Joel graduated from The Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1999 with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering and a minor in psychology.

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

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

Mr. Mitra steers the Polyolefin Insight and Research practice for Chemical Market Analytics under Chemical Market Analytics and played a pivotal role in conceptualizing, developing, and executing the Chemical Market Analytics sustainability study. He has gained diverse career experience working at top global companies and leading business management, market development, market intelligence, and strategy. His interests are in pricing, strategy, and intelligence. He joined Chemical Market Analytics in 2016 with more than 22 years of experience in the petrochemicals business. Previously, with petrochemical giant SABIC, Mr. Mitra led the global strategy team for the polymers business, shaping long-term ambitions in terms of growth, business improvement, innovation, and pricing. He was instrumental in developing a framework for strategy execution, as well as deploying performance metrics. Mr. Mitra holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering and a marketing MBA.

Ana Lopez Director, Americas Vinyls Research Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Ana Lopez is the Director of Americas Vinyls Research at Chemical Market Analytics.

Since 2012, Mrs. Lopez has formed part of the inorganics team at IHS Markit Base Chemicals business (now known as Chemical Market Analytics), specializing her analysis on the vinyls markets in North America and South America, as well as the chlorine and hydrochloric acid markets in the US.  Recently, she started covering the global sodium sulfate market.  She contributes to the monthly reports on those topics. She has presented several times at the Global Chlor-Alkali & Vinyls Conference, Plastic Pipe and Fittings Association meetings, Vinyls Compounders Conference and Global Plastics Summit. She has an intimate knowledge of engineering project execution and petrochemical commodities markets.

Before joining Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS, Mrs. Lopez spent several years with Pemex International Trading Company (PMI) in Mexico City, dealing with petrochemical commodities commercial operations as well as market analysis, preceded by a few years with the EPC company ICA Fluor Daniel. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from the Iberoamericana University, Mexico City, and an MBA from Instituto Tecnologico Autonomo de Mexico (ITAM), Mexico City.

Chuck Carr Vice President, World Analysis Strategic Team Lead Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Chuck Carr is Vice President of the strategic team at Chemical Market Analytics.

Chuck is responsible for providing strategic leadership for the global chemical supply/demand analytics and World Analysis publications. Prior to his current position, he was the global business leader for the Inorganics team, senior director of Global Olefins, and service leader for the North American Light Olefins Market Advisory Service at Chemical Market Analytics. His focus for the past 10 years has primarily been on olefins and the analysis of the propylene and propylene derivatives markets for hundreds of global customers.

Chuck’s expertise encompasses the oil and gas and chemicals industries, including refinery engineering/operations, purchasing, plastics logistics, and olefins commercial activities. Prior to joining the IHS Markit base chemicals business (now known as Chemical Market Analytics) in 2011, he served as director of propylene studies in the olefins group of Chemical Market Associates, Inc. (CMAI) since 2006. Previously, he was with Total Petrochemicals USA for more than two decades.

He received a Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering from the University of Oklahoma and is a registered professional engineer in the state of Texas.

Javier Ortiz Director, North & South America Methanol Lead Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Javier Ortiz is the Director for the North and South American Methanol market at Chemical Market Analytics.

As of 2019, Mr. Ortiz leads methanol market coverage in the Americas. He began his consulting career at CMAI (Chemical Market Associates, Inc.) in 2007 as a research analyst for the North and South American synthetic fibers markets with a primary focus on the polyester and nylon supply chains. He was subsequently appointed global leader of CMAI’s senior research analyst group while taking over consulting coverage of the nylon raw materials markets in the Americas.

Before joining the IHS Markit base chemicals business (now known as Chemical Market Analytics) Methanol team, Mr. Ortiz formed part of its Plastics group for nearly a decade, where he led coverage of the polyolefins markets in Latin American, directed the QuiMax Latin American consulting service, and was also responsible for polystyrene market research in the Americas.

He holds degrees in Industrial Engineering and a minor in Business Administration from Texas A&M University, US.

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

Mr. Lewandowski serves as the Vice President of Global Olefins at Chemical Market Analytics.

Steve is based in Houston. 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 a wide array of financial, strategic, technical, and commercial roles. Before his move to CMA, 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 the commercial responsibility for olefin and aromatic monomers including styrene.

Prior to the Base Chemical Senior manager role, Steve had increasing responsibilities within the Petrochemical business at TOTAL. The Latest assignment was overseas, in Brussels Belgium, responsible for global aromatics long-term commercial business activity. The assignment included P&L responsibility and strategic project development for TOTAL around the world. Prior to 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 of focus on finance and economics from the University of Texas at Dallas in 2000.

Bill Hyde Vice President, Global C4 & 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, emphasizing C4 Olefins and rubber, assuming responsibility for that practice in 2006. The Base Chemicals Group of IHS Markit, which includes the C4 Olefins and Elastomers Practice, became Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS a Down Jones Company in June 2022. He has published a number of papers on the Olefins and Elastomers industries and presented at numerous Olefins and Elastomers Conferences around the world.

Hyde has a B.S. and M.S. in Chemical Engineering from Brigham Young University and an M.B.A. from Tulane University.

Matthew Thoelke Vice President for Olefins and Derivatives in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa 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.

During his time with Chemical Market Analytics (formerly part of IHS Markit base chemicals business), and CMAI, Matthew took a variety of roles across a broad range of product areas. With over 20 years of experience, Matthew acts as the key resource within the business for understanding and insight into the olefins sector of the petrochemical industry, for these key regions, he works closely with the petrochemical, oil and financial industries, bringing support and guidance throughout the petrochemical chain. Current specific responsibilities include the European/Middle East Report Olefins and primary input and support for the World Ethylene and Propylene Analyses.

Previously within CMAI, Mr. Thoelke has worked in both olefins and aromatics consulting in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa with key responsibilities in olefins, but also in aromatics markets. His previous role had a primary focus on butadiene and elastomers, in which subjects he remains a globally recognized industry speaker and expert. His responsibilities included input to the Global Outlook – Feedstocks, Elastomers Report, European Market Report Aromatics, Aromatics Market Report, and taking the lead role in analyzing olefin and derivative markets in support of the long-term planning outlooks in the World Analysis.

Educated at Cambridge University Mr. Thoelke received a BA and MA in Material Sciences before completing a Diploma in Manufacturing Engineering (ACDMM).

William Chen, Ph.D Executive Director, Asia Olefins Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

William Chen is Executive Director at Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS, a Dow Jones Company.

He has expertise in industrial experience, including R&D, sales, and professional consulting services. He leads Asia Olefins business with research responsibilities for providing insight into the dynamics associated with the ethylene, propylene, C4 & derivatives value chain markets. Provide thought leadership on the markets relating to supply, demand, price, and economics, as well as competitive dynamics and changing industry structural elements. Write analyses for Weekly, Monthly, and Annual reports (Market Advisory Services and World Analyses). William also Leads the Asia Olefins business for strategic growth as well as provides ongoing commercial management. Focus on nurturing relationships with clients and deepening services as part of clients’ commercial and strategic decision-making processes. Nurture relationships with clients, including SOEs, POEs, and MNCs to deepen services as part of clients’ commercial and strategic decision-making processes. Within Chemical Market Analytics, William also has been involved in many petrochemical consulting projects and multiple client studies, including China Coal Chemical Study, Global Propane Dehydrogenation Research, and Refinery-cracker/aromatic complex feasibility study.

Prior to Chemical Market Analytics, William worked for ChemChina. At the company, William started as a chemical engineer in the Lanzhou fiber plant, in Northwest China. Then, he moved back to Beijing to focus on downstream application development. In the last two years with ChemChina, William took charge of sales and marketing responsibility in NE Asia.

William earned Ph.D from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and majored in Polymer Chemistry and Physics. William is based in Beijing China.

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.

Nick Vafiadis Vice President, Global Plastics & Polymers Team Lead Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Nick Vafiadis is the Vice President of the Plastics & Polymers business at Chemical Market Analytics.

Nick is a 30-year veteran of the chemical industry and manages Chemical Market Analytics’s global plastics practice. His daily responsibilities encompassed analysis, consulting, and reporting on the global polyolefins market, as well as managing the operations associated with producing and developing the report. Concurrently, he contributed to single-client projects and studies related to the polyolefins industry. In his earlier assignments, he was responsible for consulting duties associated with the Chlor-alkali and vinyl product chain. He contributed to the Monomers Market Report, the Chlor-Alkali Market Report, and the Global Plastics & Polymers Market Report.

Nick has been with IHS Markit base chemical business (now known as Chemical Market Analytics), and its predecessor CMAI since 2002. Before joining CMAI, he had spent twelve years with Vista Chemical Company (now Condea Vista Chemical Company), where he held assignments in marketing, product management, and sales management in both the vinyl and surfactant business areas. Mr. Vafiadis holds a Management BBA from The University of Texas at Austin, United States.

Robin Waters Executive Director, Global Circular Plastics Sustainability Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Robin Waters serves as Executive Director of Chemical Market Analytics focused on planning and analysis for the advisory services that cover polyethylene and polypropylene.

Mr. Waters brings more than three decades of industry experience to his role as Director of plastics planning and analysis. His responsibilities at Chemical Market Analytics cover polyethylene and polypropylene, including support for both market advisory services as well as single client projects and studies related to polyolefins. He served as project lead for “Plastics Pathway to Sustainability”, the multiclient study on plastics sustainability issued in November 2018 and is project lead for “Changing Course: Plastics, carbon and the transition to circularity” an expanded multi-client study on plastics sustainability to be issued in 2020. Mr. Waters joined Chemical Market Analytics in 2012 as Director of Polyolefins-North America. Previously, he was with LyondellBasell in commercial management roles in polyethylene and polypropylene for 15 years, including new business startups and third-party marketing agreements, regional sales management, strategic planning, and contract management. He began his career at DuPont, initially as a business analyst for supporting the global elastomers business followed by technical, sales, and business management assignments for a variety of films and resins in packaging markets. Mr. Waters holds a Bachelor of Science in chemistry from the University of Georgia and an MBA from the University of Miami, both in the United States.

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.

Hazel Kreuz Vice President, Global Inorganics Chemical Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

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

Ms. Kreuz brings four decades of chemical industry experience to the Chemical Market Analytics Inorganic chemicals insights team. She joined the IHS Markit base chemicals business (now known as Chemical Market Analytics) in 2016 as Chlor-alkali Chemicals Global Service Lead. Ms. Kreuz was promoted to her current role leading the Global Inorganic chemicals insights team in April 2019. She leads twenty analysts that analyze, forecast, and report on chlor-alkali chemicals, vinyls, bleaching chemicals, and soda ash from five global locations.
Ms. Kreuz has a background in petrochemicals and inorganic chemicals; she held a range of functional roles in several companies prior to joining Chemical Market Analytics. Hazel began her career in ethylene oxide and glycols manufacturing with Union Carbide Corporation; she also held ethylene oxide derivatives, HS&E, risk analysis, financial analysis, and marketing management positions with Union Carbide. She was a recipient of Union Carbide Corporation’s prestigious Chairman’s Award for the development of the Corporations’ Episodic Risk Management System, which Arthur D. Little praised as “elegant and sophisticated”.

Hazel moved to the inorganic chemicals world joining Canadian Occidental, which subsequently became Nexen Petroleum, and then Canexus, where she held management positions in chlor-alkali chemicals and sodium chlorate marketing, strategic planning, and investor relations. She returned to the US chemical market, joining Huntsman Corporation and serving as global marketing manager for mining chemicals, pulp & paper chemicals, and water treatment chemicals in the Performance Products division.
Hazel holds a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering and an MBA.

Nick Kovics Vice President, Global Chlor-Alkali Service Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Nick Kovics is the Vice President of the Global Chlor-alkali Market Advisory Service team at Chemical Market Analytics.

Mr. Nick Kovics serves as Vice President leading the Global Chlor-alkali Market Advisory Service team and covering the US caustic soda market.
Mr. Kovics brings over 25 years of chemical industry experience to the inorganics chemicals insights team at Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS, a Dow Jones company. He joined the organization in 2017 as Global Bleaching Chemicals Global Service Lead. Nick then developed and led the Global Lithium & Battery Materials Service before being promoted to Chlor-alkali Chemicals Global Service Lead at the end of 2019.

Mr. Kovics has a varied background, working in upstream energy, new energy, and electrochemical industries. He held various functional roles in several companies before joining Chemical Market Analytics. Nick began his career in the oil service sector with Schlumberger Canada cementing and hydraulic fracturing services. Nick transitioned from oil and gas to new energy and spent a decade in the hydrogen fuel cell sector with Ballard Power Systems in Burnaby British Columbia. Nick’s career continued in the electrochemical sector when he joined Canexus and held positions in chlor-alkali chemicals and sodium chlorate marketing before joining Chemical Market Analytics.
Mr. Kovics holds a Bachelor’s in Chemical Engineering, an MBA, and a Canadian Chartered Professional Accountant.

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

Eddie Kok is the Executive Director of the Inorganics Group at Chemical Market Analytics

Eddie is globally responsible for the Vinyls Market Advisory Service. He has more than 20 years of experience in the chemical industry, holding broad responsibilities, including regional sales, marketing, business development, and product management. Eddie joined Chemical Market Associates, Inc. (CMAI) in 2004 as a consultant. Eddie is responsible for providing market coverage and analysis for Asia’s chlor-alkali and vinyls market. Eddie has a good grasp of the global chlor-alkali and vinyls sector dynamics and is the go-to person for data and market intelligence in Asia.

Before CMAI, at IHS Markit base chemicals business (now known as Chemical Market Analytics), Eddie broadened his responsibility and assumed the team leader role for the Vinyls Market Advisory Service. Over the years, he has worked on numerous chlor-alkali and vinyls projects around the Asia-Pacific region, providing analytical and planning support to clients.

Eddie holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Campbell University, North Carolina, United States.

Lina Suarez Director, North America Chlorine Research Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Lina Suarez is the Director of North America Chlorine Research at Chemical Market Analytics.

Lina provides market discovery, analysis, and reporting for caustic soda in North America and selects countries in Latin America. She joined the IHS Markit base chemicals business (now known as Chemical Market Analytics) in 2019 as part of the Inorganics Global Business Team. With extensive experience in the integrated Chlor-alkali, ethylene, and vinyls production and commercial chains that contribute to Chemical Market Analytics’s industry-leading expertise in chlor-vinyls and chlor-alkali derivatives.

She has worked as a sales executive and product manager in multiple Latin American countries over the past twenty years, gaining deep petrochemical and chlor-vinyls industry knowledge and broad expertise in chemical market analysis, sales and management. Her experience includes positions with Quimica Delta as Product and Commercial Director for the Base Oils and Solvents business units in Mexico; Commercial Director PMV / Mexichem Mexico guiding chlor-alkali, ethylene, and VCM business strategies and commercial operations; and experience 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.

Henry Warren Director, EMEA Chlorine & Vinyls Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Henry Warren is the Director of the Inorganics Group at Chemical Market Analytics.

Mr. Warren is an integral member of the Vinyls Market Advisory Service. He performs market analysis of the polyvinyl chloride (PVC) industry and its precursors – ethylene dichloride (EDC) and vinyl chloride monomer (VCM). He is a key contributor to the annual World Analysis – Vinyls and the in-depth monthly vinyls service.

For most of his career, he has covered hydrochloric acid, chlorinated solvents, caustic potash, and caustic soda, but his focus has continued to center on vinyls. He joined Chemical Market Analytics when it acquired Harriman Chemsult, a highly regarded consultancy specializing in the chlor-alkali and vinyls segment.

Mr. Warren has a degree in economics and he entered the field of chemical market analysis in 1996, analyzing feedstocks and several polyolefin value chains in Europe, North America, and Latin America. Along with the stakeholder relationships he has built over several decades, his in-depth understanding of the industry contributes to the unparalleled level of insight that Chemical Market Analytics brings to this sector.

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

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

Angel joined the Chemical Market Analytics team through the legacy IHS Markit Base Chemical team in 2021 and is running the EMEA Chlor-alkali Research as part of the Inorganics Global Business Team. He brings 17 years of experience in trading, shipping, market research, and analysis for the chemical industry

Angel started his career in the chemical industry with BP Chemicals, followed by five years at Sojitz UK, where he was involved in the trading and shipping aromatics, solvents, and methanol.

Before joining the IHS Markit base chemicals business (now known as Chemical Market Analytics), he spent 10 years researching and analyzing oxo alcohols, plasticizers, and chlor-alkali markets at a market data provider. Angel holds Masters Degrees in Chemistry and International Relations.

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 focuses on the Asian chlor-alkali markets and brings over 20 years of experience in chemical distribution and trading. His experience includes working for Chemical Industries (Far East) Limited, Univar Singapore, and as General Manager for Singapore and Asia for Basic Chemical Solutions Far East.

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.

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 acts as the key resource within Dow Jones for understanding and providing insight into the Aromatics sector of the petrochemical industry, he works closely with the petrochemical, oil, and financial industries.
Duncan joined IHS Markit base chemicals business (now known as Chemical Market Analytics) in 2013, he has spent the last 32 years working in the chemical and petrochemical industries in various Sales, Marketing, and Global Business Management roles.

Before this, Duncan spent ten years working in an ExxonMobil / Shell joint venture company, involved in Fuel and Lubricant additives visiting refineries all over the world. He also spent 12 years working for Air Products in various chemical and industrial gases businesses in the U.K., 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.

He graduated with a BSc. in Chemical Engineering from University College London. He also has a Master of Business Administration from Manchester Business School.

Ashish Pujari Vice President, Asia Aromatics | Global Polyurethane Feedstocks | Polyester Fibers & Feedstocks | Polyester Stream Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

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

Mr. Pujari is responsible for the Asian Aromatics business and Global Fibres and Feedstocks business and is the service leader for subscription services covering the global Polyester and the Asian Aromatics value chain. He also provides commercial leadership to the Polyurethanes Service within the Base Chemicals group. Apart from the regular market and outlook updates, Mr. Pujari also leads initiatives to create and update the long-term outlook for the polyester value chain. He has also been involved in numerous consulting studies since joining the firm.

Before joining Chemical Market Associates, Inc. (CMAI) in 2009, Mr. Pujari gained 15 years of experience with Reliance Industries Limited in India. He started his career as a project and operations engineer and was involved in the startup and commissioning the Hazira complex on the west coast of India. He shifted to the commercial role in mid-1998 and worked as a business analyst for Reliance’s executive management before moving to a sales and marketing role, handling Fibers Intermediates. Mr. Pujari holds a B.E. in chemical and polymer engineering from Maharashtra Institute of Technology, Pune, India, and completed his Executive MBA at the Indian Institute of Management (IIMB), Bangalore, India.

David Potter Executive Director, EMEA Phenolics and Americas Isocyanates Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

David Potter is Executive Director for EMEA aromatics and phenolics at Chemical Market Analytics.

Mr. Potter joined the IHS Markit base chemicals business (now known as Chemical Market Analytics) at the start of 2013, where he has been responsible for market coverage and insight across the global aromatics and fibers team. He has specialized in aromatics derivatives such as phenolics, styrene monomers, and polyurethane feedstocks for both the EMEA region and the Americas. He is currently responsible for aromatics and phenolics in the EMEA region.

Prior to joining IHS Markit base chemicals business (now known as Chemical Market Analytics),  Mr. Potter worked on the petrochemical desk at Platts for close to six years, where he covered the EMEA benzene and toluene markets for over four years. He also worked on other product streams including olefins and polymers. He first entered the petrochemical world in 1999 when he was recruited by Petrochem Carless, a UK-based refiner and distributor. He worked with Petrochem Carless for nearly seven years, where he took a variety of sales and marketing roles.

Mr. Potter also has a postgraduate diploma in periodical journalism.

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

Prem serves as the Director for the Polyester and Glycols & EO business for the European, Middle-East, and African markets.

Prem is responsible for polyester fibers, glycols & EO derivatives business for Chemical Market Analytics (CMA) at Dow Jones for the EMEA region. Prem has more than 28 years of rich and diverse industry experience in global manufacturing, technical, expansion projects, sales & marketing, and business development, supporting him in his current role. He holds a degree in textile engineering and has earned an MBA degree. He has also completed an Executive Management Development Program from IIM Bangalore in India and a Business Sustainability Management program from Cambridge University in the UK.

Before joining CMA in 2017, Prem worked with Reliance Industries Limited for 23 years at different locations in India and Germany. He was based in Frankfurt from 2008 to 2017, where he was responsible for establishing Reliance’s Polyester business in the EMEA region.

Peter Feng Executive Director, Americas Styrenics Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Mr. Peter Feng is the Executive Director of Aromatics at Chemical Market Analytics.

He is a known industry expert on styrene, polystyrene, and expandable polystyrene. Mr. Feng is currently the Service Leader for the North American Aromatics Market Service and has been covering the aromatics markets for over fourteen years at CMAI and IHS Markit base chemicals business (now known as Chemical Market Analytics). He has over 36 years of experience in the chemical industry working first for Air Products and Chemicals and then for Sterling Chemicals. During this time he had assignments in Process Engineering, Process Technology, Information Systems, Environmental, Supply Chain, and Commercial. In 1992 he joined Sterling Chemicals where he had various supply chain and commercial responsibilities for styrenics and other products. Mr. Feng was a Partner at CMAI when it was acquired by IHS Markit in May of 2011.

He has covered the benzene, toluene, mixed xylenes, styrene, polystyrene, EPS, ABS, and phenolics markets at CMAI and Chemical Market Analytics but focuses currently on styrene, polystyrene, and expandable polystyrene. As an industry expert, he has testified as an Expert Witness in numerous arbitration and court cases. He contributes to a number of services and reports including the North American Aromatics Market Report. Mr. Feng has written for a number of World Analyses and is now responsible for the World Styrene Analysis, World Polystyrene Analysis, and World Expandable Polystyrene Analysis. He is a frequent speaker at events such as the World Petrochemical Conference, EPS Expo, Foodservice Packaging Institute, and Badger’s World Styrene Conference. He has assisted with single-client work in the areas of strategic planning, mergers, and acquisitions, bankruptcies, benchmarking, litigation, and market analysis.

Mr. Feng holds a Bachelors and Masters of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from Northwestern University, US, and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from the University of Houston, US.

Roberto Ribeiro Executive Director, Global Ethylene Oxide | Ethylene Glycol Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Roberto Ribeiro is the Executive Director for EO & Derivatives in the Americas at Chemical Market Analytics.

Roberto Ribeiro is a seasoned chemical and petrochemical expert with 30 years of experience. He is the Research & Analysis Director and global leader for Ethylene Oxide and Derivatives at Chemical Market Analytics and is responsible for market analysis, insights, price discovery, and forecasts for ethylene oxide, ethylene glycols (MEG, DEG, TEG), ethoxylates, glycol ethers (E-series), ethanolamines (MEA, DEA, TEA) and paraxylene. Also, he contributes to the market analysis for orthoxylene, PTA, PET, and PU feedstocks for North America.
He joined Chemical Market Analytics and its predecessor (IHS Markit) in April 2021 from Asterisk Advisors, a petrochemical consulting company. During his time at Asterisk, he provides the full business and market-oriented assessment for the chemical and petrochemical value chain, based on deep insights into customer needs and developing a culture of performance and efficiency within its client.

Previously, he was President of Townsend Solutions, a petrochemical-industry strategic consulting firm. Before joining Townsend Solutions, Roberto was in a series of Strategic Planning, Business Development, M&A, and Sales and Marketing leadership roles from petrochemical manufacturing companies, all now part of Braskem and LyondellBasell.

Roberto holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Finance and Business Administration from São Paulo University (Brazil). He also holds a master’s degree in Oil & Gas from Universidad Austral (Argentina) and has participated in a series of professional development courses with Harvard Business School, New York University’s Stern School of Business, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

He has spoken at a long list of industry conferences spanning Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and North and South America.

James Nicholson Executive Director, America Benzene, Pygas & Reformate Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

James Nicholson is the Executive Director for America Benzene, Pygas & Reformate at Chemical Market Analytics.

Mr. Nicholson is the Research and Analysis executive director responsible for market coverage of Benzene, PyGas, and Reformate in North America.  He has 30 years of industry experience with 29 years having served Lyondell Chemical in a variety of roles including optimization, olefins feedstocks, trading, and multiple commercial roles where he was most recently Business Director – Aromatics and Oxygenated Fuels, Americas.

Meiko Woo Executive Director, Global Nylon Fibres & Feedstocks Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS

Meiko Woo is an Executive Director for Global Nylon Fibers and Feedstocks service at Chemical Market Analytics.

Meiko Woo is a known industry expert on nylon feedstocks and fibers, including cyclohexane, cyclohexanone, caprolactam, adipic acid, and downstream nylon fibres. With more than 15 years of commercial and technical petrochemical industry experience, She has developed an international reputation for providing meaningful analysis and actionable solutions for customers to optimize their business position with respect to the fibres industry.

Prior to joining Chemical Market Associates, Inc. (CMAI) in 2009, Ms. Woo gained 6 years of experience with Invista in Taiwan. She started her career as a process engineer and was involved in plant operations before shifting to a commercial role in early 2007 and working as a planning and technical service manager, handling polyester intermediates. Ms. Woo holds a Bachelor of Engineering, Chemical Science from the National Taiwan University, Taiwan, and a master’s degree in environmental engineering from the National Chiao Tung University, Taiwan.

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

Brian Lee is the Executive Director for Styrene, Phenol, and Acetone at Chemical Market Analytics.

Brian is responsible for covering Styrene, Phenol, and Acetone market analysis and the market reports on Asian Aromatics.

Mr. Lee serves as an executive director at Chemical Market Analytics and is responsible for covering Styrene, Phenol, and Acetone market analysis, as well as the market reports on Asian Aromatics. He contributes to various market advisory publications and supports consulting activities. His distinguished career has spanned over 25 years in the petrochemical and chemical industries.

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 BTX, Styrene, PX, and 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.