I am a London, UK-based oil market analyst, financial writer and editor. I've written for Forbes, Rigzone, Energy Post and many other publications on a regular basis, alongside regular energy industry speaking engagements. With over 20 years of experience in the financial and trade press, I have worked on all major media platforms – print, newswire, web and broadcast. I am a regular and lively commentator on 'crude' matters for international broadcasting outlets including BBC, CNBC, ITN, CGTN, TRT World, Al Jazeera, IG Markets TV and OPEC Webcasts, and the global press.
And I regularly serve as a panelist, speaker and/or moderator at several signature energy sector events. Past public speaking engagements have included the International Petroleum Week (London), World Petroleum Congresses, World Energy Council events, ADIPEC (Abu Dhabi), Gulf Intelligence Energy Markets Forums (Fujairah), Structured Commodity Finance Forum (London), Central Asia Oil & Gas Trading Conference (Kazakhstan), and more.
Most recently, I served as Vice President/Lead Analyst and Financial Editor at Citi. Prior to that, I was the Head of Content at fintech start-up ReachX from 2018 to 2020 and Business Editor of the International Business Times (UK Edition), then part of the Newsweek Media Group, from 2016 to 2018.
I commenced my career in 1997 with internships at several newspapers and CNBC Asia. Following that, my first break came as an editorial trainee at Reuters affiliate newswire UNI in 2000. Assignments at Visiongain Publishing, Asian Voice and Informa followed, before I joined global business news broadcaster CNBC’s European production operations for a two-year stint.
I then left CNBC to take-up the position of Chief UK Correspondent for Montreal-based Canadian Economic Press, followed by Infrastructure Journal where I worked as an oil & gas analyst covering projects within the sector. Between September 2012 and July 2014, I worked on IDG's British portfolio of B2B titles including CIO UK and CFOWorld, latterly as Business Editor of both.
I began my ongoing contribution to Forbes in June 2014. An assignment at Digital Look and Sharecast commenced in March 2015, where I doubled up both as newsdesk sub-editor and oil markets analyst, before I ended it in favour of working for IBTimes UK/Newsweek Media Group from 2016 to 2018.
Writing and commentating on crude oil and commodities remains my core area of expertise. While the idea behind the Oilholics Synonymous Report was born in 2007, I have written about the oil & gas sector since 2004 either in a freelance or staff capacity, including spot reports (pricing, market analysis and infrastructure), coverage of OPEC summits and energy events, analysis of oil corporations' financials and exploration data.
I have also covered media, aviation, retail, technology and telecoms sectors as well as personal finance in the past. Apart from UK-based work, I have reported from overseas with assignments in North and South America, Asia Pacific, Indian Subcontinent, Europe and the Middle East. At various points in my career, I have been an OPEC, Bank of England and UK Office for National Statistics correspondent.
An interesting journalistic journey, spanning over two decades, has seen me interview several senior executives and leading figures in financial, business, legal and political circles. Some notable figures include the late Lord Eddie George (former Governor of the Bank of England), Robert M. Kimmitt (former United States Deputy Secretary of the Treasury), David Cameron MP (Former UK Prime Minister in his capacity as Leader of the UK Conservative Party in opposition), Galo Chiriboga (former Minister of Petroleum and Mines, Ecuador), Margaret Hodge MP (former Chairperson of the UK Public Accounts Committee), David Farr (former CEO of Emerson), Jean-Pascal Tricoire (former CEO of Schneider Electric), Bernard Charles (CEO of Dassault Systems), Jim Ratcliffe (Founder of Ineos), Bob Dudley (former CEO of BP) and Ulrich Spiesshofer (former CEO of ABB).
Academically, following on from a Bachelors degree in Industrial Economics and a diploma in creative writing, I completed my Masters degree in Digital Media Studies from Goldsmiths College, University of London in 2006 while working at CNBC. My academic research entailed critically examining and researching the new media domain and application of the Internet by corporates, academia, lobby groups as well as citizenry's user interface with emerging technology.
I am a member of the Chartered Institute of Journalists (CIoJ). Away from professional affiliations, I am a committed supporter of UNICEF, NSPCC and the Royal British Legion. Last but not least, I am a proud member of the P.G. Wodehouse Society (UK), an avid reader of The Economist and a passionate fan of Manchester United football club.
