Profile

An internationally recognized authority on energy, investment, finance and geopolitics over the past 30 years, Ögütçü has built significant knowledge and experience on policy and business matters, with a particular geographic focus on Europe, Central Asia, Russia, the Middle East and China.

Currently, Ögütçü chairs Global Resources Partnership, UK, sits on the boards of Genel Energy plc and Sisecam Group, serves as Special Envoy of The Energy Charter for MENA Region, and as Executive Chair of The Bosphorus Energy Club, an exclusive gathering of the senior executives and leaders in finance, energy and politics across Turkey, Eurasia, the Middle East and Africa.

An effective convener and doer, he provides strategic advice to large international groups on access to fund-raising, investment, business growth in emerging market economies, M&A deals, commodity trading and risk mitigation.

In his early career, Ögütçü worked as deputy inspector on the board of Is Bankasi, Turkey's largest private bank, and undertook projects as NATO Research Fellow and EU's Jean Monnet Fellow. He was a prominent diplomat, having worked on critical "economic and energy diplomacy" dossiers in Ankara, Beijing, Brussels and Paris, and later as an advisor to the late Turkish Prime Minister, Turgut Ozal.

Following diplomatic assignments in Ankara, Beijing, Brussels and Paris, Ögütçü served for 12 years as a senior staffer at the International Energy Agency and OECD in Paris, managing energy security and international investment programs. Until recently, he was director for BG Group's international government affairs in London, managing high-level government engagements and new business development around the world including in Kazakhstan in connection with Karachaganak field. He also worked as a board member of Yasar Holding Group, and Chairman of the Advisory Board of Invensys plc.

Ögütçü is a graduate of Turkey's "Mulkiye", London School of Economics (MSc) and College d'Europe (MA), Bruges. He is an occasional lecturer at London School of Economics' Enterprise Executive Programme, Harvard University, Dundee University, University of Reading and Peking University's School of Government since 2005. He writes and lectures extensively around the world on energy, investment and geopolitical matters.

Ögütçü is fluent in Turkish, English, French and Chinese mandarin (conversational).