Paul Hodges is a trusted adviser to major chemical companies and the investment community. 

His "ICIS Chemicals and the Economy" blog has been widely recognised for its success in correctly forewarning its readers of the global financial crisis.  

As Chairman of International eChem, he brings Creative Energy to Important Issues in the areas of:

Refining/petrochemicals interface.  Understanding the new global balance for olefins and aromatics, caused by changing feedstock and gasoline markets.

Restructuring.  Leading the development and implementation of strategies to achieve successful business turnarounds.

Sustainability.  Introducing new Resource Management concepts in the supply chain to reduce plant operating costs.

Business development.  Taking a commercial lead to help companies enter new markets quickly and profitably.

NiTech Solutions Ltd. Paul is also non-executive Chairman of this fast-growing technology spin-out from Heriot Watt University, Scotland.

Prior to launching IeC in 1995, Paul spent 17 years with Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI), both in England and the USA, where he held senior executive positions in petrochemicals and chloralkali, and was Executive Director of a $1 billion ICI business.

He judges the annual ICIS Global Innovation Awards, is a founder member of the Advisory Board for 'ICIS Chemical Business', and a Freeman of the City of London.

Paul is a graduate of the University of York, and subsequently studied with the IMD business school in Switzerland.

John Keeley, as Chief Executive Officer of International eChem, focuses on a number of key areas:

Client training.  He heads an experienced team of training consultants, who work with individual client companies to customise programmes to meet their specific needs.  His aim is to give participants the opportunity to leverage more value from the chemical industry on behalf of their company.

Conferences.  He chairs a number of international Conferences, including the annual European and Asian Aromatics & Derivatives Conferences, jointly organised with ICIS.

Market Studies.  He undertakes single and multi-client Studies, assisting clients to identify profitable opportunities for business development, particularly in the Middle East and Central Asia. 

Previously, John spent 35 years with Shell Chemicals in the UK, The Netherlands and Germany.  He held senior management positions in the base chemicals, polyurethane and solvents businesses.  In 1985 he became manager of the Aromatics trading team within Shell, where he gained an early insight into risk management trading techniques, including hedging.  He subsequently moved to Shell’s Frankfurt office, and then in 1996 became responsible for Shell’s European aromatics business.  This gave him considerable commercial and international experience of product and general business management within the chemical industry. 

John has served on a number of industry bodies, including a period as Vice President of the CEFIC Aromatics steering group and on the CEFIC styrene group.

John Lawrence is widely recognized in the chemical Industry as a leader in purchasing excellence.  Prior to joining IeC, John had over 30 years experience in DuPont in Europe, USA and Asia, where he held senior positions in marketing, manufacturing, Business Management and Trading. His last position in DuPont, was in the management of DuPont’s Global Purchasing Function, where he led a team responsible for an over $1.5bn raw materials portfolio.

He has extensive M&A experience, particularly in due diligence and the on-going contractual relationships with the seller. His most recent experience has been in leading the restructuring of the purchasing function in a major privately owned chemical company in Europe and USA.  John holds a PhD in polymer chemistry and studied Finance at INSEAD in France.

Peter Gaines is a specialist in business strategy and training, with considerable senior management experience in the oil and chemical industries.  He is especially active in the transport biofuels sector, in which he is an advisor to government and industry on the development and interpretation of UK and EU policy and regulation, and its application to investment and market opportunities.

Previously, Peter spent 30 years with Lyondell, ARCO Chemical, and BP, during which time his responsibilities included worldwide executive management for a number of  commodity and performance chemical businesses, including styrene monomer, MTBE, propylene oxide and strategic raw materials.  He is a graduate research chemist with extensive experience in alternative fuels.

Bob Townsend specialises in the lower olefins, principally ethylene and propylene, and in polyolefin plastics. Over the past 10 years, Bob has particularly focused in the M&A area, and has recently provided independent appraisals of feedstock security and economics for  a range of clients, including Basell, Shell and Haldia Petrochemicals.

Previously, Bob worked for Shell Chemicals, covering a range of commercial roles in basic petrochemicals and polyolefins, including as Business Manager, Lower Olefins, for Shell Chemicals Europe. He played a fundamental role in the consolidation of Shell Chemicals basic chemicals business during the severe recession of the early 90’s,  and led the negotiations with Himont on monomer issues that led to the formation of Montell.  He also has considerable global experience, having worked for 5 years in the Middle East, and for 3 years in Asia.

Andy Gibbins has extensive experience in manufacturing within the chemical and process industries.  He has successfully managed a wide range of projects including contract negotiations, cost/productivity optimisation studies, union agreements, organisational redesigns, waste reduction programmes, the development/implementation of performance incentive schemes, and site closure projects.  In addition, he has advised ‘deal teams’ on technology, manufacturing and process issues.

Previously Andy was a Site Manager for NOVA Innovene in the UK and France.  Before this, he worked in a variety of technical and manufacturing roles for Shell Chemicals from 1986 – 1999.  Andy is a Chemical Engineer, and is a chartered member of the Institution of Chemical Engineers.  He is a fluent French speaker.

He is also an expert in the successful introduction and commercialisation of innovative new technology, including award-winning membrane technology for chloralkali production.