MANAGING DIRECTOR

Tim is a global macro and special situations Portfolio Manager with over a decade of experience in commodity markets and global trading. His expertise includes crude oil and refined products, physical logistics, wheat, energy and metals derivatives, and emerging market sovereign credit. He previously served as an Associate at Goldman Sachs and a Vice President at JP Morgan before establishing his own trading platform. He began his career at BNP Paribas in Paris and later worked at several leading investment banks and hedge funds, focusing on cross-commodity strategies, geopolitical risk, and multi-asset market structure. His background spans both physical and financial trading as well as direct exposure to global supply chains and commodity financing. Before his career in commodities and finance, Tim competed internationally as a professional tennis player. He holds a degree in International Business and a Law degree (LLB) from the University of New England and is a qualified Australian lawyer.

HEAD OF TRADING / GOVERNMENT

Benton is an investment professional with six years of buy-side experience, and he currently oversees Trading and Government Contracting at GASTCO / Standard Oil Corp. His responsibilities include supporting physical and derivatives trading, coordinating government tenders, and managing relationships with agencies involved in energy procurement and strategic supply programs. Previously, at Amakor Capital Management, a London-based hedge fund with $2B AUM, Benton led due diligence on private equity deals, equity research, and greenfield project evaluations. Before that, he served as a Senior Analyst at a U.S. private equity firm, focusing on buyouts, operational analysis, and investment strategy across industrial sectors. Benton also contributes to NATO and U.S. DoD contracting initiatives and works closely with the firm’s Government Desk to ensure alignment with compliance and procurement standards. He holds an MSc in Banking & Finance from the University of St Andrews.

GASTCO’s dedicated MENA Desk manages our relationships, trading flows, and strategic partnerships across the Middle East and North Africa, a region central to global energy supply and sovereign production policy. The desk focuses on crude oil, refined products, and cross-barrel strategies, with capabilities spanning spot and term lifting, government tenders, NOC engagement, refinery offtake, and regional logistics.

The desk serves as a key hub for both sourcing and distribution, connecting MENA producers with global demand centers across Europe, Asia, and the Americas while maintaining strict compliance, diplomatic discipline, and commercial agility.

mena@gastco.co

GASTCO’s Government Desk oversees all engagement with sovereign entities, National Oil Companies, ministries, and international government bodies. The desk manages participation in government tenders, strategic reserve programs, bilateral supply agreements, and compliance-driven transactions across crude oil, refined products, and other critical commodities. Our team interfaces directly with organizations such as the U.S. Department of Defense, the Department of Energy, NATO procurement channels, and allied government contracting offices.

With a focus on transparency, policy alignment, and secure execution standards, the Government Desk ensures GASTCO meets the operational, legal, and diplomatic requirements necessary for high-trust government and quasi-government partnerships worldwide.

government@gastco.co