Our Team

Chris Starling
Managing Director
Chris has over 20 years experience in the energy industry and is Chartered Member of the Securities and Investment Institute in the UK. After graduating with a First Class degree in Economics from the University of Leicester, Chris worked in the City for Aviva Investors and the Bank of New York before moving into the energy sector where he has performed a number of commercial, economist, corporate finance, business development and M&A roles for Centrica, Sterling Energy and ENGIE before founding Holt Energy Advisors in 2018.
Chris has worked on over 40 energy sector transactions both asset and corporate deals and restructurings with his most recent role with ENGIE being Head of Commercial and Business Development in ENGIE's UK E&P business where he was the member of the management team responsible for commercial negotiations, strategy and portfolio management and MA&D. Chris also coordinated and developed ENGIE's UK E&P Commercial Training Programme.
Specialist Areas: Mergers, Acquisitions and Divestments, Corporate Finance
Favourite Teams: Liverpool F.C, Williams F1 Racing
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Andy Giles
Director - Commercial
Andrew has over 35 years experience in the oil & gas sector in various upstream and downstream positions including commercial roles with Mobil, Arco British and ENGIE (formerly GDF SUEZ) and also roles on offshore development projects for British Gas and Amerada Hess.
Andrew has also worked as an independent commercial consultant with clients including Chevron, ATP and GDF SUEZ. This included working on gas sales issues such as hydrocarbon marketing and operations, hedging strategies and dispute resolution. In his most recent role as Commercial Operations Manager, Andrew took a lead role in the commercial activities relating to the start up of the operated Cygnus field and he was responsible for the tendering of gas sales and day to day management of the company's equity share of gas production for ENGIE's UK portfolio. In addition, Andrew has experience of enterprise risk management and was Risk Officer for the commercial and business development function at ENGIE.
Specialist Areas: Hydrocarbon Sales and Marketing, Commercial Operations
Favourite Teams: Queens Park Rangers F.C, Warwickshire CCC
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Sam Reed
Director - Hydrocarbon Sales
Sam has 30 years of oil and gas industry experience, working in a variety of technical and commercial roles for Hunt Oil, Seafield Resources, Dana Petroleum, Petrobras, Enterprise Oil and JX Nippon. In her role as Hydrocarbon Sales Advisor at JX, Sam was responsible for hydrocarbon marketing and sales contract management for the company's 40 crude, natural gas, and LPG product streams. Routine duties included marketing, tendering, negotiating commercial terms, devising sales strategies, commercial operations, and regulatory reporting.
As an independent consultant, Sam has undertaken projects and studies for Alpha Petroleum, Japex and JX Nippon, working on some of the largest developments and producing fields in the UKCS. Sam worked alongside the commercial teams during the Development Phases of the Culzean and Mariner fields, and was responsible for marketing and setting up a suite of bespoke sales contracts prior to their start up. In addition to hydrocarbon sales and marketing, Sam has undertaken political risk work, and produced a series of reports looking at 'Above the ground' country risk for oil and gas investment opportunities across Europe.
Specialist Areas: Hydrocarbon Sales and Marketing, Political Risk
Favourite Teams: England Rugby, Chelsea FC and British Athletics
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Yanick Latil
Director - Middle East & Asia (MEAS)
Yanick is a finance executive with strong multicultural roots and has over 20 years of experience in the energy sector including working in Europe and the Middle East and brings a broad and pragmatic Management Consulting perspective. Yanick has diverse industry experience working directly with key energy players, including several sector leaders in the Qatar energy value chain.
He holds a HEC Paris Executive MBA, one of the leading international business schools, for which he contributes actively as an Advisor supporting participants on the development of business opportunities and being involved in several other programs they run. He also has a Master's degree in Finance and Accounting from a recognized institution in France which has further reinforced his financial skills and knowledge. Yanick's approach is to actively support executive teams developing strategies, business opportunities or solving business problems through a strong leadership and dedicated advisory role. He is committed to continue supporting the development of leaders worldwide through sharing his experience and knowledge in the financial arena.
Specialist Areas: Strategic Planning, Financial Operations, Acquisitions and Divestments
Favourite Sports: Running, Mountain Biking, Tennis and Golf
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Nigel Holmes
Senior Advisor - Commercial
Nigel has over forty years oil and gas experience, of which thirty were in the upstream sector. After graduating from Oxford University with a degree in Engineering & Economics, Nigel started his career with BP latterly moving into corporate planning. During this time he had postings to West Africa and Hamburg. His experience in the upstream sector has included all aspects of the Industry: commercial negotiations, A & D evaluations and execution, oil and gas sales and economic analysis.
Most recently he was Corporate Affairs Manager with ENGIE E&P responsible for relationships with all external stakeholders: high level contact with Partners; government departments across the ENGIE Group - gas regulation, power generation and gas storage. Before this Nigel was Commercial & Business Development Manager and participated in initiatives in the regeneration of the UKCS including fiscal stimulus, decommissioning security agreements and the Wood Review leading to the current MER legislation. He is a Committee Member of the European Petroleum Negotiator's Group.
Specialist Areas: Acquisitions and Divestments, Commercial Operations
Favourite Teams: Tottenham Hotspur F.C, Sevenoaks Hockey Club
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Nick Holloway
Senior Advisor - E&P Strategy and Geoscience
Nick brings over 50 years of experience in geoscience, business development and E&P strategy : over 35 years with major oil companies and a variety of UK, US, Australian and Dutch independents followed by roles in both technical and business development consultancy. He has provided research and strategic analysis with specific expertise in geoscience, opportunity screening, upstream business development strategic review and deal origination.
Prior to joining HEA, Nick worked with IHS (now IHS Markit) on several strategy projects for UK, US, Australian, SE Asian and Russian companies as well as the development of the Global Window screening system. With IHS, Nick gained critical insights across the energy spectrum from shale gas and tight oil production to renewable energy. Before joining IHS, Nick undertook several successful business development consulting assignments with Premier Oil, Sterling Energy and Bow Valley Petroleum. Previously he held various management, business development and technical roles with Burlington Resources, Santos, Sovereign Oil & Gas, Phillips Petroleum and Burmah Oil. Nick has specific experience in NW Europe, North Africa, Southeast Asia and Latin America.
Nick holds an MA and a BA in Natural Sciences (Earth Sciences) from the University of Cambridge.
Specialist Areas: E&P Strategy, Business Development, Geoscience
Favourite Sports: Rowing, fell walking and mountaineering.
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Uisdean Vass
Consultant Senior Advisor - Legal
Uisdean has over 35 years experience in UK and International Oil and Gas upstream transactions and commercial agreements. He has worked in senior positions within a number of International and UK Law firms including Head of Oil and Gas in premier scottish/UK law firm Maclay Murray and Spens LLP (2004-2012). He founded VassPetro in September 2020.
Active in the Association of International Energy Negotiatiors (AIEN) and a regular commentator on matters of importances to the UK and International oil industry, Uisdean has expertise in M&A, upstream contract advisory, MERUK, petroleum regulations, supply chain and policy and legislation.
Specialist Areas: Legal, M&A, Upstream Contract Advisory, Petroleum Legislation.
Favourite Teams: Rangers F.C.
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