Laurie Fitzmaurice has nearly 30 years’ experience in business development, focusing on the renewable energy sector across the United States, Chile, Brazil and Mexico.
With Covid-19 creating so much uncertainty in deal markets, it is easy to assume that the outlook for investors in energy and natural resources assets for 2020 is dismal. Yet while the focus in the short term may be shifting away from typical investments and reallocating towards capturing the contango trade, it looks likely that those that have invested wisely over the past five years will continue to benefit from an upside by the end of this year.
Deanna Reitman has over 20 years of experience working in commodity markets and more than 8 years of senior management experience. Her background encompasses legal, regulatory and business experience in commodities, with a particular focus on energy. Here, she shares what energy commodity trading companies can do to lessen the impact of the COVID-19 crisis.
2018 saw the energy and commodities markets continue to be challenged and disrupted. Global geopolitical uncertainty, shifting trade patterns, rising interest rates, digital innovation, and the emergence of a new generation of leaders are just some of the themes fuelling a sustained period of wholesale structural change across the sector.
The oil space was marked by change in 2018, with trading companies shifting focus to asset-backed business and big producers moving into trading, driving talent reshuffles across the industry.
Recruitment activity was high in 2018, led by the continuing development of the LNG market and reorganisation in the gas and power space
Metals and minerals trading started to show promise in 2018 after years of subdued activity and despite the decline in the EMEA coal sector. Mining is showing signs of returning to a growth cycle after almost a decade of stagnation and underinvestment, indicating a coming war for operational and project leadership talent.
Activity was characterised by market change in 2018, with the increasing spread of digitalisation and shifts in consumer focus driving demand for talent with technical and commercial backgrounds.
Increased competition for antibiotics-replacement technology has led to far higher demand for candidates with expertise in the field, and we expect this trend to continue in 2019
Is your business ready for the new reality?
