Charlie Tan

Charlie is Chief Executive Officer at the Global Impact Coalition, a unique spin-off from the World Economic Forum founded by some of the leading petrochemical companies, focusing on the delivery of net-zero business models and unlocking the technologies and finance that will enable them. Charlie was previously at the Forum, leading the incubation and development of this Coalition. Prior to the Forum, Charlie spent the last several years building successful start-ups within the energy space, focusing on structuring partnerships, strategic funding and corporate venturing activities. Charlie has a BSc in Business from Imperial College London and a CFA Certificate in Investment Management.

Session Overview

Tuesday, 4 November

12:55

Downstream & Chemical Conference Room A 12:55 - 13:35

Downstream and chemical resilience: the role of strategic mergers and joint ventures

The race to secure market position, enhance supply chains and future-proof operations is driving a wave of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and joint ventures (JVs) across the downstream, petrochemical and refining sectors. Companies are repositioning their portfolios to strengthen resilience and unlock new revenue streams, but with rising pressure on standalone assets, how critical is site integration to long-term viability? These deals present opportunities for cost efficiency, low-carbon innovation and operational synergies, but also introduce challenges such as regulatory scrutiny, geopolitical risks and market demand fluctuations. Stricter environmental, social and governance (ESG) policies and trade tensions are further complicating cross-border transactions, requiring companies to adapt to shifting regulations and integration hurdles.

Attendee insights:

Learn how M&A and joint ventures are transforming downstream markets, reshaping refining strategies and petrochemical investments, and discover which players are leading the next phase of growth.