Acknowledgements

David Glasspool

Head of Sales & Marketing at Amphora

David started his career in trading operations in Enron 20 years ago, and then moved on to be a natural gas trader for BP. Prior to sales, David spent over 7 years as a Senior Business Analyst for Amphora. This involved successful demos and implementations for new clients across multiple commodities including Oil, LNG, Biofuels, Concentrates.

David's solid background in commodity trading is coupled with experience both in trading and project implementation, allowing David to have a clear and in depth understanding of what is achievable and how.

At Amphora, David is responsible for driving revenue across all the company’s markets and regions.

Neil Hitchinson

Crude Oil Trader

Neil Hitchinson is a seasoned Senior Crude Oil Trader with a distinguished career spanning over two decades. His journey began in 1999, marking the start of an extensive and successful tenure in the world of commodity trading. Specializing in crude oil, Neil has brought his expertise to various firms within Europe and the US, most of which have leveraged the Symphony platform by Amphora, a system that has been a cornerstone in his professional life.

With a rich background in Brent and a comprehensive understanding of the broader crude complex, Neil's role as a Senior Trader is highlighted by his deep knowledge and proficiency in the field. His experience encompasses not only the practical aspects of trading but also an in-depth familiarity with critical trading platforms, notably Amphora's Symphony, which has been a consistent feature in most of his professional engagements. Neil's career is a testament to his dedication and skill in navigating the complex and dynamic world of crude oil trading.

Marco Williams

CEO, Vaal Trading LLC

Marco Williams, the CEO of Vaal Trading Group based in Dubai, leads a forward-thinking petroleum commodity trading business established in July 2021. Under his guidance, the company quickly progressed to full operational status by December of the same year. Specializing in the trading of physical petroleum products such as crude oil, gasoline, and diesel, Vaal Trading Analysis expertly handles the entire supply chain, from procurement to delivery. Vaal Trading encompasses managing complex aspects of commodity pricing and risk exposure, placing them at the forefront of midstream petroleum commodity trading. Since August 2022, Marco and his team have been clients of Amphora, utilizing the Symphony platform to enhance their trade position management and streamline operations. His leadership has been instrumental in adapting Vaal Trading Analysis to the dynamic demands of the commodity trading market.

Joel Burgess-Allen

Head of Corporate Business Systems, Petredec

Joel Burgess-Allen is an accomplished professional in the commodities industry, currently holding the position of Head of Corporate Business Systems at Petredec. With a solid 16 years of experience in the industry, Joel has spent the last eight years at Petredec, a company specializing in LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) trading and overseeing liquid petroleum gas operations. At Petredec, he has been instrumental in implementing the Amphora Symphony system–a crucial tool in managing trading operations–managing its integration and overseeing its use by around 60 team members.

In his role, Joel focuses on aligning IT systems and solutions with business strategies, involving analytics platforms for trading decisions and ERP systems for process standardization. He collaborates closely with various departments to tailor technology solutions to their needs, ensuring that Petredec's operations are enhanced by effective and evolving technological tools.

Dr. Gary Vasey

Managing Partner, ComTech Advisory

Gary Vasey is a partner at ComTech Advisory, where he serves as a Managing Partner which is the leading analyst firm in commodities trading risk management (CTRM) software. He has over 20 years of experience providing analyst services in the CTRM software arena. Previously, Vasey worked at firms including Price Waterhouse, Cap Gemini, and Sochetti, where he focused on energy and commodities. He holds a PhD in geology and began his career at BP before transitioning into information technology and consulting roles. Aside from an 18 month stint as CEO equivalent of a power trading company in Prague, Vasey has spent the last two decades working as an analyst in the CTRM software space. He is credited as one of the individuals who helped coin industry terminology such as "CTRM." In his partner and analyst role at Comtech Advisory, Vasey leverages his deep expertise to provide analysis and insights into the commodities trading and risk management software industry.