OUR TEAM

SENIOR EXECUTIVES WHO HAVE SUCCESSFULLY ESTABLISHED AND RUN ENERGY BUSINESS;
AND NEGOTIATED COMPLEX DEALS ON BEHALF OF LEADING COMPANIES

MARK MCHUGH

MARK MCHUGH

XAVIER BOUTAUD

XAVIER BOUTAUD

MARTIN DICKINSON

MARTIN DICKINSON

ALEXANDRE PENNA

ALEXANDRE PENNA

BEATRIZ C. MANEY

BEATRIZ C. MANEY

THOMAS FUGLESANG

THOMAS FUGLESANG

JIM CARGILL

JIM CARGILL

RALPH HESJE

RALPH HESJE

CUTHBERT ROBERTS

CUTHBERT ROBERTS

ZUHAIR BARAKAT

ZUHAIR BARAKAT

EDGARD STRAUSS JR.

EDGARD STRAUSS JR.

JOSÉ BLANCO

JOSÉ BLANCO

PETER W. BODOLAY

PETER W. BODOLAY

IVO GASTALDONI

IVO GASTALDONI

WILLIAM MCCORMICK

WILLIAM MCCORMICK
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MARK MCHUGH

Managing Partner

BIO

Mr McHugh is Founder of E Partners, an experienced senior international oil industry executive, advisor and deal-maker, based in Rio de Janeiro. He has held positions in Shell as VP Marketing Americas, VP Strategy North LATAM, GM Venezuela and GM International Strategy Consultancy. He is focused on oil and gas in Brazil and Latin America and has successfully advised on major transactions in the sector. He has an exceptional track-record in leading new business development, implementing global business strategies, M&A and managing start-ups in oil and energy.

Mr. McHugh lectures on the MBA course in International Energy Finance at PUC-Rio – Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro

EDUCATION

Mr. McHugh graduated as a mechanical engineer from Imperial College, London and has a postgraduate qualification in finance and business administration from the University of London.

XAVIER BOUTAUD

Managing Partner

BIO

Mr. Boutaud is co-Founder of E Partners, a senior executive with more than 30 years successful international career, 27 of which with Shell, in Brazil, the UK, Netherlands and Venezuela in General Management, New Business Development, Marketing, Trading, Sales, Supply, spanning Oil Products Downstream, Natural Gas, LNG and Energy Efficiency Services. He has gained valuable experience leading the negotiation of long-term gas contracts, price reviews, and supply and infrastructure deals, including in several new market entries as well as large established markets going through disruptions and transformations.  He is accustomed to both mature and emerging market environments, concluding successful negotiations in Brazil, the USA, Mexico, Russia, Japan, Norway, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Austria, Hungary, Algeria and Venezuela.

EDUCATION

Graduated as an Agriculture Engineer from Escola Superior de Agricultura “Luiz de Queiroz”​ USP, with and MBA from PDG Exec, São Paulo and complementary Executive training from the IBGC (Instituto Brasileiro de Governança Corporativa), The Wharton School,  Lax Sebenius and Fundação Getulio Vargas of São Paulo.

MARTIN DICKINSON

Managing Partner

BIO

Mr. Dickinson has more than 20 years’ experience in the midstream and downstream energy sector, providing sector expertise in supporting acquisitions, divestments and deal origination along the value chain. He has worked extensively with private equity, infrastructure funds, investment banks and other financial institutions, as well as companies already active in the sector, from oil majors to independent renewable start-ups. Until recently he was Head of Business Development for Shell Trading based in London. He has also performed a variety of senior roles in M&A, Strategy and Portfolio for Shell and business development roles in Texaco.

EDUCATION

MBA – Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées
BSc (Eng) – Civil Engineering, Bristol University

ALEXANDRE PENNA

Managing Partner

BIO

Mr. Penna was 37 years with Petrobras – including 20 years as Executive Manager with board positions in several Petrobras affiliates. Among notable achievements: he was instrumental in engineering of the early development of the Campos basin and in founding the gas and power group inside Petrobras. This included Petrobras gas transmission pipeline subsidiaries – TAG and TBG; and creating the network of local gas distribution companies (LDCs). He was also part of the senior team tasked with developing the company’s pre-salt strategy following its discovery. Mr. Penna lectures on the MBA course in Energy Risk Management at PUC-Rio – Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro

EDUCATION

IMD Business School – Corporate Governance
London Business School – Senior Executive Programme
Babson College – Intrapreneurship

BEATRIZ C. MANEY

Managing Partner and General Counsel

BIO

Ms. Maney is highly skilled in international law, foreign affairs and investment advisory for oil and gas transactions, notably with state-owned enterprises. She has served as international legal liaison to foreign oil and gas entities for Petróleos Mexicanos (PEMEX), Mexico’s state-owned petroleum company. Beatriz is renowned as a leading expert in the Mexican Oil, Gas and Energy business, government bids and strategic partnerships. She has helped to build long term presence in renewables, power, development of midstream natural gas and hydrocarbons infrastructure, providing assistance to both Mexican and US Companies searching for opportunities and JV partners.

EDUCATION

Law degree from Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes (1988-1993)
Admitted to the Texas Bar 2014

THOMAS FUGLESANG

Managing Director

BIO

Mr. Fuglesang is based in Oslo and an expert in various areas of finance and deal structuring in the oilfield services and shipping space. He is an active board member of various oil services, shipping and commodities companies. He worked for Morgan Stanley, Credit Suisse and Pareto Securities, where he was involved both in the corporate finance as well as equity and debt capital markets.

EDUCATION

MSc Shipping, Trade & Finance – Cass Business School, London
BA Business Economics – Vrije Universiteit, Brussels
BA Business Economics – Augsburg University, Minnesota

RALPH HESJE

Managing Director

BIO

Mr. Hesje has a distinguished career at key businesses in the oil and gas industry, including at: Enron Corp, and NOVA (TransCanada); encompassing pipeline, natural gas distribution, construction and midstream service companies in Canada, Argentina, Chile, Bolivia and Brazil. He has held positions as CEO and COO of operating companies in the sector. Mr. Hesje is also Chairman and experienced Board member of a Canadian service company.

EDUCATION

Mr. Hesje graduated as a mechanical engineer from the University of Saskatchewan

CUTHBERT ROBERTS

Managing Director

BIO

Mr. Roberts is a developer of international energy infrastructure projects, with over 25 years’ experience in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America.  He has led the development and financing of thermal power, renewable energy projects, alternative fuels, modular oil & gas processing plants, carbon mitigation facilities, and transnational pipeline projects for such companies as Dow Chemical Company, Enron, and others.  His expertise includes deal origination, structuring, and negotiating with government ministries, energy suppliers, and heavy industry manufacturers primarily in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.

EDUCATION

Columbia University, School of Engineering, Professional Engineer of Mines in Mineral Economics & Finance
M.Sc. and B.Sc. in Mineral Engineering and Chemical Metallurgy

JIM CARGILL

Managing Director

BIO

Mr. Cargill has over 40 years’ experience in global oil and gas service companies, including senior roles with ASCo, Wood Group Offshore, SBS Logistics (Peterson), and OSA do Brasil. Currently CEO of PlanSea, a Robert Gordon University spin-out deploying AI software to the marine logistics sector, he is a member of the Oil & Gas UK Efficiency Task Group and has just completed a second term as a Board member at Montrose Port Authority.
He is Vice-Chairman of Grampian Housing Association and an advisor to the regional government transport partnership NESTRANS

EDUCATION

Arts Economics and Politics – Open University
DMS – Abertay University

ZUHAIR BARAKAT

Managing Director

BIO

Mr. Barakat has a wide business management, strategy development and deal valuation with experience across a host of different industries. He held senior roles within Shell across Africa, Europe, Middle East and Central Asia. He was CSO and deputy CEO at a prominent African Group of companies where he led the strategy development process for their energy, manufacturing and telecom businesses across the Middle East and Africa. He also led the group investment team running market analysis, financial modelling and deal valuations for new investment opportunities.

EDUCATION

BSc Mechanical Engineering from the University of Khartoum
Master of Business Administration from the University of Leicester

JOSÉ BLANCO

Senior Advisor

BIO

Mr. Blanco is a leading industry expert and developer of oil storage terminals, pipelines and logistics, having worked for more than 30 years in BR Distribuidora, as a senior executive in the areas of: engineering, operations, procurement, and logistics. He has led the structuring and management of projects for the implementation of fuel logistics infrastructure and process improvement.

EDUCATION

BSc Mechanical Engineering – UFRJ; Terminal and Oil Pipeline Engineering – PETROBRAS / UC with specialization in Fuel Distribution; Business Management (Executive MBA) – COPPEAD / UFRJ; Business Logistics – COPPEAD / MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY; SAP R / 3 System (Sales, Distribution and IS-OIL); Project Management – PETROBRAS / PMI-RIO; Specialization in Business Process Management – PUC RJ

EDGARD STRAUSS JR.

Senior Advisor

BIO

Mr. Strauss has more than 30 years of senior level management experience in the downstream market in Brazil, involving all commercial, operational and financial aspects. He worked as a Petrobras B2B National Accounts Manager for fuels and lubricants, with relationships with the largest companies in the Brazilian market in the mining, steel, pulp & paper, cement and cargo and passenger transport segments. He was head of lubricants supply and manufacturing with responsibilities for investment management, freight contracting, and HSE among other items. He also has held roles as Commercial Director of and offshore supply company with drilling and production operations.

EDUCATION

BSc in Mechanical Engineering with a MBA in Business Management and Economics.

PETER WILLIAMS BODOLAY

Senior Advisor

BIO

Mr. Bodolay is a seasoned professional with broad experience in Business Management, acquired in large Oil & Gas multinationals. Founding partner of ATHENA, he has worked for 28 years at the Royal Dutch Shell Group and SHVGas, where he held senior positions with P&L responsibilities in several areas such as Engineering, Finance, Strategic Planning, New Business Development, Sales, Marketing, Operations, Change Management, Turnaround, Acquisitions and Governance.

EDUCATION

BSc. Mechanical Engineering at Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF), MBA Business Management at COPPEAD, MBA Finance at the Brazilian Institute of Capital Markets (IBMEC) and Advanced Program in Leadership at Wharton School, USA.

IVO GASTALDONI

Senior Advisor

BIO

Mr. Gastaldoni is an experienced executive and developer in the LPG industry, with extensive experience in all stages of market strategy and structuring, involving primary and secondary supplies, customized infrastructure and equipment selection.

He has held positions as Director of Sindigás (the Brazilian LPG companies’ association) interfacing with government on all aspects of industry operations and regulation and as Operations Director of Nacional Gás, a market leader in the Brazilian LPG market.

EDUCATION

BSc. Mechanical Engineering with postgraduate in industrial health and safety at PUC-Rio – Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro and MBA in Business Management at FGV

WILLIAM MCCORMICK

Senior Advisor

BIO

Mr McCormick is highly talented senior executive, with thorough multi-cultural experience on global scale including S&OP, competitive strategy, new business development, new market entries, strategic negotiations and successful business turn-arounds.

He has held leadership positions in a range of industries: lubricants, fuels, bitumen, steel manufacturing, real estate development and construction at companies, including: Shell, Votorantim, Terranum, Gulf Oil and Puma Energy.

EDUCATION

BSc Industrial Engineering, Pontifical Xavierian University · Bogotá, Colombia
MBA, Universidad de Los Andes · Bogotá, Colombia


BOARD OF ADVISORS

ALDO CASTELLI

Mr. Castelli is a leading oil industry figure, based in Brazil. Mr. Castelli has held key roles most notably as: President of Shell Brazil, Corporate Vice President of Shell Latin America and CEO of all regional operations in the Caribbean and Central America for Shell.

LUIS SCOFFONE

Mr. Scoffone is a seasoned industry leader, as Shell’s VP Alternative Energies from 2008 to 2012 he was instrumental in the creation of Raízen the world’s largest bio-fuels business. Previously, he held positions as CEO Jiffy Lube and Shell Lubricants VP.

JAMES C. ROW

Mr. Row is founder of Entoro, with over 25 years of experience in various areas of deal structuring and energy finance – originating and arranging funding on over $10 billion of energy projects. Mr. Row serves as a member of the Houston Society of Financial Analysts, Houston World Affairs Council, Houston Producers Forum, TMA, IPAA and AIPN.

ROBERTO M. COSTA

Mr. Martins-Costa has been part of the leadership of TRX since its foundation in 1991 and has led TRX’s international expansion, contributing to the company´s business profile today in global investment banking and advisory services. Member of several associations, professional entities and think-tanks Mr. Martins-Costa is also Honorary Consul of the Republic of Serbia in Rio de Janeiro-Brazil.