Authors

Larry Chorn, responsible for energy forecasting and quantitative analysis activities, joined Platts in 2006 from the Colorado School of Mines, where he was associate professor of petroleum engineering and director of the Center for Petroleum Supply Studies. He spent 25 years in the global oil and gas business, including independent valuation and risk consultant work. He holds a PhD in chemical engineering from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign and an MBA in finance and strategy from Southern Methodist University.

Mike Davis, global lead for Platts' risk management, has over 20 years' experience in derivatives markets including positions in analysis and trading. Since joining Platts in 2000, he has led development of Platts' forward curve products, including derivatives for key oil and US gas and power benchmarks. He has organized Platts' worldwide seminars and conferences on risk management and hedging. He holds a BA and an MA in Law from Cambridge University.

Neil Fleming is head of strategy for Platts, a role he combines with a career as a playwright. He is former vice president of Platts' information division, former editorial vice president, and former editor-in-chief of Platts' real-time oil news service. He was United Press International's East Africa correspondent, South Africa bureau chief, and Platts Middle East correspondent. He holds a first class honors degree in modern languages from Cambridge University.

David Hanna, Platts' Global Petrochemicals Director since 2000, in late 2007 assumed an additional role as Senior Market Director of China, based in Beijing. David joined Platts in 1993 as a reporter covering Asian oil and petrochemicals markets. He holds an MA in International Relations from Yale University and a BA in Asian Studies from Cornell University. He spent a year as an exchange student at the Beijing Foreign Studies Institute in 1985-86.

David R. Jones is Platts' global renewable energy editor, based in London. An environmental journalist with 20 years' experience, Jones edited newsletters on US state and local government, medical waste management, oil pollution, and solid waste before joining Platts in 2001 to cover coal and energy policy.

John Kingston, Platts' global director of oil, manages a staff of almost 80 editors covering the world's oil industry. He has been with Platts for 22 years, including stints as managing editor of Platts Oilgram Price Report and editor-in-chief of Platts Oilgram News. Prior to joining Platts, Kingston worked for American Metal Market and for newspapers in New Jersey and Virginia. He is a graduate of Washington & Lee University.

Ross McCracken, editor of Energy Economist, joined Platts in 1999 to run the European and West African crude desk. He was previously an editor with an Oxford University-based political and economic consultancy, and has taught in Poland and China. He holds a master's degree in European studies from the London School of Economics and his undergraduate degree is from the University of East Anglia.

James O'Connell, international coal managing editor, joined Platts Metals in 2001, covering global precious metals trading. He joined the coal team in early 2007, leading reporters in Europe and Asia producing news for the global coal, electrical and steel industries. He previously worked for Irish broadcaster RTE. He holds a BA in English and History and a Higher Diploma in Applied Communications from the National University of Ireland.

William Powell is the editor of Platts' International Gas Report, a fortnightly with a strong focus on markets and politics. He has worked for Platts since 2001, where he has managed the real-time European news and markets team, and has been writing about gas markets since the mid-1990s. Before Platts he held senior positions at Financial Times Energy, Argus Media and Heren Energy. He is a Russian speaker and a graduate of London University.

Ihsan Rahim manages Petrochemicals coverage for the US and Latin American markets. Based in Houston, he joined Platts in 2002 as senior petrochemicals editor in London. He has worked on introducing daily assessments and market-on-close methodology for petrochemicals. Before Platts he was an investment banker, specializing in corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions. Educated at Kings College School London, he holds an honours degree in Money Banking and Finance from the University of Birmingham.

Margaret L. Ryan, a 26-year veteran of McGraw-Hill energy reporting, is editorial director of Platts Global Nuclear & Coal coverage, managing 20 professionals worldwide. Active in the American News Women's Club and the National Press Club, she previously worked for weekly and daily newspapers. She holds a BA in history from the University of Pennsylvania and an MA in communications from American University.

David Stellfox is senior nuclear editor based in Brussels. He spent 10 years reporting on nuclear regulatory issues in Washington, DC, becoming managing editor of Platts' Inside NRC, and the six years until 2007 as managing editor of international coal, based in London and reporting on coal trading in Europe and Asia. He worked previously in newspapers, and holds a bachelor's degree from Slippery Rock State College and a master's from St. John's College.

Swami Venkataraman is a director in Corporate and Government Ratings with Standard & Poor's, and a member of the Utilities, Energy, and Project Finance Ratings Group. He joined S&P Indian affiliate CRISIL in 1997 and has worked since 1999 in both the New York and San Francisco S&P offices. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst, holds a B.Tech from the Indian Institute of Technology and an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management.

Alessandro Vitelli, managing editor for global emissions markets, is responsible for Emissions Daily. He worked on Platts' oil and petrochemicals' desks, beginning in 1988, including a stint as director of petrochemicals, and has been a broker with PVM Associates. He holds a bachelor's degree in politics and French from the University of Reading, and studied at the Institut d'Etudes Politiques in Paris.

Larry Chorn

Mike Davis

Neil Fleming

David Hanna

David R. Jones

John Kingston

Ross McCracken

James O'Connell

William Powell

Ihsan Rahim

Margaret L. Ryan

David Stellfox

Swami Venkataraman